International Defence Innovation Project
The Context
Contemporary national security concerns underscore the significance of innovation in military and defence contexts. Specifically, the resurgence of great power rivalry, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and the evolving nature of threats to international security underscore the imperative for a more profound comprehension of the ramifications of innovation capabilities. Concurrently, defence innovation remains an under-explored domain in Europe, resulting in substantial knowledge gaps and a paucity of expertise. This situation engenders conditions that impede the identification of novel solutions to pressing problems and challenges.
The Aim of the Project
The International Defence Innovation Project (IDIP) aims at establishing a solid understanding of the driving factors, key implications and related themes of defence innovation. In partnership with the Swiss Armed Forces and Stanford University, the GCSP will spearhead the effort to create knowledge, gather leading practitioners and share insights and best practices. To do so, the project will:
- Present the current state of defence innovation, the geopolitical context influencing it and provide a scan of relevant technologies;
- Explore the concept of “defence innovation”, its desirability and performativity, as well as study its drivers;
- Present the different processes leading to defence innovation in diverse contexts;
- Provide an overview of governance and public policy issues related to defence innovation, including ethical, legal and regulatory aspects.
Overall, the project will address common aspects of defence innovation by states governed by the rule of law, which will enable to share results and potential solutions.
The Structure of the Project
First, the project consisted of desk research. This research led by the GCSP, in close collaboration with the partners, aimed at gathering the most current and relevant information in the literature, structuring and conceptualizing the information. This also allowed to create a knowledge hub and expert network to the benefit of the project.
Based on this research, a first workshop entitled “Advancing Defense Innovation: Challenges and Responses in the Wake of the Russo-Ukrainian War” was held on 23-24 May at Stanford University. Experts from academic, policy, legal, and technical backgrounds were convened to explore the evolving facets of defence innovation. It consisted of thematic sessions featuring short expert presentations followed by a moderated discussion between experts to explore the nexus between policy, law, and innovation. Workshop participants also visited the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit and engaged with Silicon Valley companies.
The outcomes of the workshop served as the basis for the Annual Senior Officers Symposium, whose 16th edition focused on “Advancing Defense Innovation”. The symposium was held from 24 to 26 september at the GCSP. It consisted of a combination of keynote presentations and discussion panels aiming to improve states’ understanding of how to overcome barriers to innovation. The symposium brought together military personnel with ranks ranging from three-star general to lieutenant colonels and their civilian counterparts responsible for defence innovation, as well as leading scientists from the fields of new technologies and military transformation.
The Symposium opened by a Geneva Security Debate with the participation of the Director General of GESDA for the opening remarks followed by a discussion between Prof Dr Colin Kahl from CISAC and Dr Tobias Vestner from GCSP who co-led the Stanford Workshop. The discussion focused on the geopolitics of emerging technologies and laid the foundation for insighful exchanges during the symposium. On the last day of the Symposium, a conversation between the Chief of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Thomas Süssli, and Colonel Dominik Winter, Chief of Defence Innovation, addressed how to build Armed Forces that can adapt.
