This month, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Admiral Pierre Vandier, attended the 6th Annual Red Queen Innovation Offsite held in California. This exclusive event brings together senior defence and industry leaders to explore the intersection of rapid innovation, commercial technology, and national security. The invite-only event provided Admiral Vandier with a unique opportunity to collaborate regarding innovation and transformation that will be beneficial to NATO.
The event is co-hosted by Steve Blank, co-founder of the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation; and Peter Newell, a retired U.S. Army Colonel who is now CEO of the innovation company BMNT. The Common Mission Project, BMNT’s nonprofit arm, sponsors the event.
The Evolving Nature of Warfare:
This event addressed the urgent need for defence organizations to adapt to the rapidly changing landscape of warfare. The proliferation of drones, autonomous vehicles, and advanced technologies pose significant challenges to traditional military structures and operations.
Having a keen understanding of these evolving security environments through studies like the Strategic Foresight Analysis, NATO’s Allied Command Transformation is charged with leading the transformation and modernization of the Military Instrument of Power across the Alliance. To meet future challenges, the command leads a number of innovation-focused events like the NATO Open Innovation Conference & Expo, the Innovation Continuum and the NATO Innovation Challenge, whose winner earlier this year developed remote mine-clearance capabilities using drones.
The ability to adapt to emerging threats and technologies is key to ensuring the collective deterrence and defence of all members of the Alliance. The themes explored in this year’s Red Queen event highlight the fact that these issues are not unique to military commands, but rather, are universal challenges experienced by industry, government and military organizations alike.
Key Takeaways:
- Rapid Technological Advancement: The global arms race, particularly in Asia, is driving rapid technological advancements in both traditional and cutting-edge domains.
- The Importance of Speed: Western militaries must adapt quickly to maintain their competitive edge and ensure effective deterrence and defense.
- The Role of Venture Capital: Significant investments in defence technology are reshaping the industry. Europe needs to adopt similar strategies to foster innovation and remain competitive.
- The Power of Digital Technology: Digital technology is essential for understanding, designing, and producing adaptable military tools. Cloud computing is a crucial enabler for accelerating decision-making and streamlining resources.
- Cultural Challenges: Overcoming cultural barriers within organizations is essential to embracing innovation. This includes understanding the nuances of technology, adapting to agile methodologies, and navigating complex regulatory environments.
- Building a Strong Innovation Ecosystem: Creating a supportive ecosystem for innovation, including collaboration between government, industry, and academia, is crucial for long-term success.
Quotes
- Regarding the need for innovation within the Alliance, Admiral Vandier shared “we need to change direction, the main effort being the weaponization of civilian tech. Doing so at speed and with an accelerated learning loop.”
- In reflections about the event, Admiral Vandier said “military innovation is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven in large part by the arms race in Asia, which is taking place both in traditional and cutting-edge domains (AI, space, cognitive, robotics, etc.). The speed of adaptation is crucial for Western militaries to maintain or regain superiority. Their ability to deter and defend depends on it. Europe has a significant opportunity but must act quickly to avoid being left behind in this race.”
- One of the co-hosts of the event, Steve Blank, expressed “the Red Queen Innovation Offsite offers a unique opportunity for defence leaders to explore emerging trends, network with peers, and drive innovation within their organizations. Admiral Vandier’s attendance highlights the criticality of NATO’s ability to innovate and adapt to confront the complex challenges of the future and contribute to the Alliance’s strategic goals of deterrence and defence.”
Red Queen: A Unique Approach
Unlike traditional conferences, Red Queen is a small, invite-only event focused on substantive discussions and collaboration. These executive level participants from industry, government and military organizations engage in intimate discussions to explore key issues affecting defence innovation. Red Queen events have played a pivotal role in advancing understanding of defence innovation, identifying critical challenges, and driving the development of groundbreaking solutions. These include the Innovation Pipeline, which has been adopted across the U.S. Department of Defense as an operating system that drives innovation activities toward mission acceleration; and the Defense Investor Network.
NATO Allied Command Transformation’s participation in the Red Queen Innovation Offsite underscores the Alliance’s commitment to fostering innovation and adapting to the evolving security landscape. By engaging with industry leaders and exploring emerging technologies, NATO can strengthen its deterrence and defence capabilities and ensure the Alliance remains at the forefront of innovation. The insights gained from events like Red Queen are invaluable for shaping NATO’s future and ensuring its continued ability to protect its member states.