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The NATO Science and Technology Board (STB) held its Fall meeting in Vilnius from 16 to 20 September 2013. A total of 180 NATO and national representatives attended that business week and in particular Mr Juozas Olekas, Minister of National Defence in Lithuania as well as representatives from NATO HQ, Agencies and Strategic Commands.
During the meeting, the focus was put on the following main challenges awaiting the STO in 2014:
  • Implementing the NAC-approved NATO S&T Strategy;
  • Implementing the “Supply-Demand” model involving STO’s stakeholders;
  • Continuing to look for synergies and complementarities between NATO and national S&T programmes and STO activities;
  • Continuing to build and maintain a vibrant S&T portfolio, optimized in width and breadth, responding to the Security and Defence challenges the Nations face in times of budget pressures;
  • Defining the future of Maritime S&T for NATO.
It was also an opportunity to discuss with many partner countries’ nationals potential improvements in their involvement in STO business.