AUSTIN, TX – Allied Command Transformation visited University of Texas, Google, and the Army Software Factory in Austin, Texas, meeting with industry, academia, and public partners to discuss technology and transformation. Emerging Disruptive Technologies are both risks and opportunities for NATO and its allies; Allied Command Transformation continues building partnerships in North America to support NATO-wide innovation efforts.
Supreme Allied Commander Transformation General Philippe Lavigne, along with officials from Allied Command Transformation, visited Texas for a series of discussions with industry, academia, and public partners, on topics including emerging and disruptive technologies, manufacturing and service logistics, and defence research and innovation. “Allied Command Transformation’s geographic location in Norfolk, Virginia, provides a unique opportunity to be closer to such expertise in new technologies in the United States. Understanding and anticipating the impact of EDTs on our operating environment is essential to leading NATO’s military transformation,” shared General Philippe Lavigne.
Allied Command Transformation leads capability development throughout the Alliance, focusing on a wide-range of Emerging Disruptive Technologies, which also includes partnership development and collaboration. In 2019, NATO agreed on an Emerging and Disruptive Technologies Technology Implementation Roadmap, structuring work across the Alliance in key technology areas. These are the nine priority technology areas for NATO’s innovation activities:
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Data
- Autonomy
- Quantum-enabled technologies
- Biotechnology
- Hypersonic technologies
- Space
- Novel materials and manufacturing
- Energy and propulsion
Emerging Disruptive Technologies are applied in both civil and military settings, these dual-use technologies are currently being researched and developed, with increasing emphasis on partnered engagements. As an example, University of Texas at Austin’s Defence Research Advancement office brings researchers, students, and defence officials together to strengthen and enhance the Alliance’s edge. Topics that were covered during the visit include energy technologies, space domain awareness, human-enabled robotics, and autonomous applied robotics.
