
NATO’s 2024 International Concept Development and Experimentation conference took place from October 29 to October 31, 2024 in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The conference synopsis can be downloaded here.
A Multi-Domain Approach:
This conference brought together 230 experts from 27 NATO member, and five partner, nations to discuss the evolving security landscape and the need for a comprehensive, multi-domain approach. By integrating capabilities across land, maritime, air, space, and cyber domains, NATO aims to enhance its ability to deter and respond to threats.
The Role of Non-Military Actors:
The conference emphasized the crucial role of non-military actors in achieving Multi-Domain Operations objectives. Government agencies, academia, industry, and international organizations bring unique perspectives and innovative solutions that can significantly contribute to NATO’s capabilities. By fostering collaboration with these actors, the Alliance can accelerate the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies.
To address complex, multi-faceted challenges, Multi-Domain Operations must integrate cyber and space domains. It’s essential to interact with non-military actors, synchronize activities, and connect for better orchestration.
Major General Devin Pepper,
Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Policy,
NATO Allied Command Transformation
Key Takeaways:
- Digital Transformation: Presentations, workshops, and demonstrations mapped out ways to interconnect with the civilian environment, of which one of the key tenets is the importance of Digital Transformation across NATO.
- Interconnectivity with Non-Military Actors: Their knowledge and resources are pivotal to enhancing information exchange, quick adaptation, and promoting sustainability.
- Leveraging Diverse Perspectives: Over the years, engagement with entities with divergent points-of-view has spawned task forces, tech-sharing platforms and knowledge-exchange programmes which are critical to foster innovation.
- Capacity Building: The conference emphasized the importance of capacity building (which includes development, readiness activities, and resource distribution initiatives), focusing on sustainability and opportunities to elevate non-military contributions in pursuit of a Multi-Domain Operations-enabled Alliance.
The 2024 International Concept Development and Experimentation conference demonstrated NATO’s commitment to innovation and collaboration. By fostering a network of experts and organizations, NATO can accelerate the development of Multi-Domain Operations capabilities and strengthen its defence and deterrence capabilities.
Conference Coordinators:
ACT Lead Planner
Commander Andrea Rigo
SO Concept Development
Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate
HQ SACT
ACT Technical Planner
Captain Tufan Karatas
SO Concept Development
Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate
HQ SACT
Previous Conferences:
2023 International Concept Development and Experimentation (ICDE) Conference
The 2023 International Concept Development and Experimentation Conference was held from 31 October until 02 November 2023 at Norfolk, VA, USA.
Click here for the 2023 Conference Synopsis.
Since 2001, the International Concept Development and Experimentation (ICDE) Conference has been the annual forum of the Supreme Allied Command Transformation that provides a unique opportunity for the international Concept Development and Experimentation community and stakeholders to discuss the most current efforts of concept development and experimentation in the warfighting and warfare development process.
Theme:
The main theme of this year’s conference “on the path to a Multi-Domain enabled Alliance” reflected the focus on the Warfare Development Agenda and CD&E’s contribution to Alliance future orientation.
Objectives:
ICDE 2023 – main objectives
- present current results of conceptual efforts with impact on warfighting and future warfare development.
- build relationships and promote a networked CD&E environment that stimulates information-sharing, collaboration, inspiration and best practices.
- identify and exploit common areas of interest, building communities that innovate with purpose and coherence.
- engage with partners, educate on CD&E processes and interests, share best practices and lessons learned.
- maintain the common effort for NATO future concept development.
Agenda:
The Conference was a 3-day event, delivering a mix of plenary sessions, engaging speakers, workshops and networking opportunities.
ACT Lead Planner
Commander Stefan JAKOBI
SO Concept Development
Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate
HQ SACT
[email protected]
2022 International Concept Development and Experimentation (ICDE) Conference
The in-person event took place from 25 until 27 October 2022 at the Marriott Hotel in Budapest; the Hungarian Defence Forces Command hosted the event.
Since 2001, the International Concept Development and Experimentation Conference has been Allied Command Transformation’s annual forum that provides a unique opportunity for the international Concept Development and Experimentation community and stakeholders to discuss the most current issues of concept development and experimentation.
After virtual editions in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, the conference setting not only provided interesting topics and discussion, but many opportunities to reconnect and collaborate in a great setting.
Theme:
The 2022 International Concept Development and Experimentation Conference focused on how Concept Development and Experimentation contributes to the Alliance Warfare Development Agenda. Highlights included keynote addresses, interactive panel discussions, and the ‘CD&E Exchange’, a mini-expo promoting Concept Development and Experimentation initiatives.
While informing through these plenary sessions, the Conference was product/output oriented through workshops in support of ongoing projects connected to its theme.
Main Objectives:
- Revitalize collaborative exchange within the Concept Development and Experimentation community of interest after two years of virtual conferencing;
- Build relationships and promote a networked Concept Development and Experimentation environment that stimulates information-sharing, collaboration, inspiration and best practices;
- Identify and exploit common areas of interest, building communities that innovate with purpose and coherence;
- Engage with partners, educate on Concept Development and Experimentation processes and interests, share best practices and lessons learned;
- Further thinking and contribute to Warfare Development Agenda and NATO Warfighting Capstone Concept deliverables.
Agenda:
The Conference was a 3-day event, delivering a mix of plenary and panel sessions, engaging speakers, workshops and networking opportunities.
Conference Lead Planner:
Lieutenant Colonel Guy DE DECKER
Staff Officer Concept Development, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate
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2020 International CD&E Conference:
The conference took place from 26-29 October 2020. Originally planned as a 20th Anniversary event in Paris, due to the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Conference was changed to a virtual event. In the spirit of CD&E, the event was a bold experiment in exploiting the virtual format to the fullest.
2019 International CD&E Conference:
The 2019 International Concept Development and Experimentation Conference took place in Madrid, Spain, 29-31 October 2019. The photos and conference reports can be found below.