Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană discusses NATO’s approach to emerging technologies at CYBERSEC

Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană stressed the importance of strong interoperability between Allies in order to keep NATO’s technological edge at the 4th European Cybersecurity Forum – CYBERSEC Brussels Leaders’ Foresight – on Thursday (18 March 2021).

In a keynote speech, he explained that NATO should be the global driver of a values-based approach to defence innovation, “to make sure that global rules and norms are shaped by our values – freedom, democracy, the rule of law – and not by those who seek to undermine them.”

NATO’s new implementation strategy for emerging and disruptive technologies aims to foster the development of new technologies and protect them from adversaries and competitors, Mr. Geoană said. He underlined that China and Russia are investing heavily in new tech, including a recent announcement on plans for a joint lunar research station. He further recalled that NATO’s ability to maintain security for almost 1 billion people has always relied on maintaining its technological edge.

To avoid an innovation gap, the Deputy Secretary General called for closer transatlantic interoperability, and strengthening work in the “triple helix” between government, industry, and academia. He added that emerging technologies and strengthening resilience will be high on the agenda at the NATO Summit in Brussels later this year.