NATO has unveiled its updated Science & Technology (S&T) Strategy on June 5, 2025, a pivotal document guiding future defense and security research across the Alliance. This new strategy emphasizes outperforming strategic competitors through technological adoption and reinforces the importance of S&T in developing capabilities and enhancing military interoperability.
NATO Unveils New Science & Technology Strategy to Secure Future Defense
On Thursday, June 5, 2025, NATO Defence Ministers officially endorsed a groundbreaking new Science & Technology (S&T) Strategy. This comprehensive document is designed to steer Alliance-wide scientific and technological research, directly supporting defense and security objectives. The strategy underscores the critical role of S&T in enabling NATO to maintain a competitive edge against potential adversaries by rapidly integrating scientific knowledge and emerging technologies across all its core tasks.
Key Pillars of the New Strategy
The new S&T Strategy builds upon the 2022 Strategic Concept and incorporates macro trends identified by the Science and Technology Organization (STO) for the next two decades. It supersedes the previous 2018 strategy and is structured around three mutually reinforcing strategic goals:
- Anticipate and Invest: This goal focuses on enhanced foresight and increased investment in crucial S&T areas. Key areas include:
- Safeguard and Protect: This pillar is dedicated to shielding the NATO S&T Enterprise from various hybrid threats, such as interference, ensuring the integrity and security of research efforts.
- Orchestrate and Energize: This objective aims to foster more robust, agile coordination within S&T initiatives. It also emphasizes maximizing the exploitation of S&T results across all NATO core tasks, promoting a more integrated and effective approach to technological advancement.
Enhancing Interoperability and Resilience
The strategy highlights the significant contribution of defense and security-related science and technology to the development of advanced capabilities and the enhancement of military interoperability among member nations. Furthermore, it stresses the role of S&T in reinforcing societal, political, and industrial resilience, recognizing that technological superiority is integral to comprehensive security.
Looking Ahead
The new S&T Strategy is a forward-looking document, taking into account the STO’s 2025-2045 report on science and technology macro trends. It positions NATO to proactively address future challenges and leverage technological advancements to maintain its strategic advantage and ensure the collective security of its members.
Sources
- News: NATO releases new Science & Technology Strategy, 05-Jun.-2025, NATO – Homepage.
