THE HAGUE, The Netherlands. The Innovation Branch at Allied Command Transformation recently concluded the third of four events in the INNOVATION CONTINUUM 2024 series: GLOW. Held at The Hague Security Delta Campus, in The Netherlands, this event marked a milestone in transforming warfare. Building on the success of the SPARK and IGNITE events in the series, GLOW brought together a diverse array of industry leaders, academic experts, NATO bodies, and member nations to refine scenarios and select innovative solutions for the final event, SHINE, scheduled for late October 2024, and hosted by Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation.
One of the key objectives of GLOW was to further develop the scenarios and solutions identified during SPARK and IGNITE, ensuring they are well-positioned for practical application in SHINE. Participants engaged in intensive workshops and collaborative sessions to delve deep into the complexities of modern warfare and explore innovative approaches to enhance operational efficiency and resilience.
The event featured a series of operational and technology-centric syndicates designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities within each domain. These discussions will be instrumental in shaping the future of NATO’s defence capabilities, with a particular emphasis on critical areas such as cyber defence, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and space technology.
Over 100 participants attended GLOW, testing 52 experiments related to Emerging and Disruptive Technologies. Representatives from the Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation, NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), industry, and Allied Command Transformation conducted these experiments. At GLOW, planners finalized exercise experimentation parameters to ensure they aligned with Multi-Domain Operations, Critical Undersea Infrastructure, and Article V scenarios, which will be the focus of SHINE at the Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation later this year. Also in attendance were some companies which are a part of “DIANA” (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic), an organization established by NATO to find and accelerate dual-use innovation capacity across the Alliance.
During the GLOW event, the Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation’s team collaborated with Allied Command Transformation and the Innovation Continuum 24 participants to finalize the planning and preparations for the SHINE event. The Centre led the Critical Undersea Infrastructure experimentation, integrating Multi-Domain Operations and a Cross Domain Command Concept wargame into their vignette planning.
The Military University of Technology (Poland) team worked with Allied Command Transformation and the NATO Communications and Information Agency on the Wargame for Collective Defence Planning Process of Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, which supported Multi-Domain Operations. The team clarified the game’s Article V scenario and agreed on the scope of the NATO Communications and Information Agency’s quantum group. They also presented the game’s progression and the software application used to simulate the movements of the opposing parties.
The Innovation Branch at Allied Command Transformation launched the INNOVATION CONTINUUM series in 2024 to deliver tangible results through experimentation and demonstration of Open Innovation and Science and Technology solutions. This initiative offers NATO commands and nations the opportunity to collaborate with Allied Command Transformation and increase the value of innovative products in supporting warfare development.
By fostering collaboration among NATO, industry, academia, and member nations, the Alliance will enhance its collective intelligence as it addresses the complexities of modern warfare. Together, participants in the INNOVATION CONTINUUM are paving the way for a future defined by resilience, adaptability, and innovation in defence technology.
