The Science and Technology Organization- One Year of Progress

A Note from the Chief Scientist

This month marks the one year anniversary of the Science and Technology Organization, the culmination of the S&T Reform component of NATO’s Agency Reform begun in 2011.

Before reflecting on last year’s achievements, I would like to wish all members of the STO “Happy Birthday” and thank them for their commitment to the success of our new organization.

The new organization, formally established on 1st July 2012, takes on the prestigious heritage of the NATO Research & Technology Organization (including its executive body, the Research and Technology Agency) and the former NATO Undersea Research Center (NURC) and adds new elements, such as the establishment of a NATO Chief Scientist position and his affiliated Office, and the implementation of unified governance of NATO S&T.

Since the standup of the STO in July 2012, we continue to pursue four clearly defined deliverables:

  • Bring the value of S&T to the fingertips of NATO and the Nations and their decision makers,
  • Implement unified governance for NATO S&T,
  • Achieve a successful transition, and
  • Strive for effectiveness, efficiency and continuous improvement.

While the transition asked for attention and energy, NATO S&T community continued to deliver very fine programmes of work, to the satisfaction of its shareholders.

On the unified governance front, the North Atlantic Council approved a new Charter and a NATO S&T Strategy applicable to all NATO stakeholders.  The strategy promotes focusing NATO’s own S&T investments in high-priority areas, informing the Nations’ investments decisions in S&T to address Alliance capability requirements, and exploiting external S&T activities whenever they are accessible and relevant to the Alliance.  Stakeholders are developing their strategy implementation plans, while the STB develops its overall strategy coordination plan.

During the past year, significant progress has been made in the CMRE transition.  At the end of 2012 a first ever CMRE Business Plan was endorsed by the STB and as from 1 January 2013, the Centre operates in its new customer funding model.  In the early spring, a Research Vessel Study has been delivered, paving the way to a definitive decision pertaining to these fine vessels.  Finally, a palette of initiatives have been taken by the STB to expand the customer portfolio of the CMRE and to look for coordination and synergies within the NATO S&T stakeholders’ community.

During this year of transition, the STO has also carefully adhered to the guidance of the Nations to continue to support the collaborative S&T environment which maintains the technological superiority of the nations and NATO.  In the past year the Collaboration Support Office oversaw the participation of more than 2,300 scientists, engineers, and researchers in STO-sponsored collaborative technical activities. Of these, more than 2,100 were from NATO Nations, the rest coming from NATO’s many Partner Nations.  In addition almost 1,800 professionals and students from 50 nations attended STO-sponsored courses, lectures, and symposia.  This outreach networked government, academia, and industry experts and informed attendees of “entry” opportunities into NATO’s collaborative network.

The STB also continued to make efficiency considerations a permanent element of its governance decisions.

To conclude, I’m proud and happy to lead this wonderful organization and to continue to work hard for the best of NATO Science and Technology, in support of the objectives of NATO, our Nations and our Partners.

I’m looking forward to continue on our challenging way forward, with and for you.

MGen Albert Husniaux

NATO Chief Scientist