The Programme Overview

While long-term technological superiority in support of deterrence was highest on the agenda for NATO and EU for quite some time, operational readiness, improvement of warfighting capabilities, and short-term availability of technology in the C5ISR field gained significant importance in the wake of the current political and military situation in Europe. Tensions are high, war is around the corner.

Trying to keep up with the dynamic development in IT and Cyber technologies in the private sector and sustainable support via solid and secure supply chains add to the challenges of today.

Actual wars with high relevance for Europe, like the Ukraine war and the Gaza conflict, offer deep insights into the new elements of warfighting, and its rapidly changing requirements. Unconventional solutions and methods for implementing information technology in the broadest sense for defence may become the new standard.

There is a growing appetite for the immediate availability of sensors, data, and effectors, thus affecting architecture, computing systems, algorithms, software, and many more C5ISR elements. The inclusion of combat systems platforms widens the scope into an inter-connected C6ISR “world”, the growing role of software is mirrored by the concept of Software Defined Defence.

The Brussels community of defence IT experts in each of the NATO, EU institutions, national representations, industry and academia may be aware of the current situation, relevant to their daily work. The exchange between them, however, on new developments, requirements, projects and possibilities in C5ISR, as a whole, was beneficial to everybody, gaining views the big picture beyond institutional boundaries was supported by a networking conference and exhibition, TechNet International. New faces were welcomed, and upcoming business opportunities were explored during the two days of the conference. Mutual understanding of chances, risks and challenges was fostered.

Information about strategic initiatives, plans, and policies by NATO and EU officials was complemented by updates on running projects such as DIANA and HEDI.