NATO Science and Technology Board meet in Stockholm

Members of NATO’s Science and Technology Board (STB) met in Stockholm last week, for its annual fall meeting, hosted by the Swedish Defence Research Agency. Among other topics on the agenda was the development of a new science and technology strategy. The work is led by Sweden’s representative on the board Jens Mattsson, Director General at FOI.

For the first time since Sweden became a full NATO-member, STB, the governing body of NATO’s Science and Technology Organisation (STO) convened in Stockholm for its annual fall meeting.

“The meeting marked an important stage in the development and evolution of the Science and Technology Organisation. We made very god progress on the NATO S&T strategy and we made very good progress on research security, and on a number of other important strategic portfolios,” Bryan Wells, NATO’s chief scientist, said after the meeting.

“It allowed myself and my colleagues to see first-hand the excellence of the Swedish facilities and the excellence of Swedish industry and to plan as colleagues, and taking the evolution of our organisation forward.”

Sweden has been contributing to the work of the STO even before becoming full members of the alliance. Today Sweden is one of the most active nations within the organisation. As a confirmation of Sweden’s good reputation and contribution to the STO the Swedish representative on the board, Jens Mattsson, is leading the work to develop a new NATO-wide science and technology strategy.

“A great deal has happened since the old strategy was approved in 2018, we have seen great technological advances, for example with so called emerging and disruptive technologies. We are also facing new security threats and an ongoing war in Europe. This new reality requires a new strategy,” Mattsson said. “A technologically advanced NATO is essential for a strong alliance.”