Students work to solve pressing technology challenges, maintain NATO’s technological edge

As part of the Secretary General’s NATO 2030 agenda, NATO is expanding its engagement with youth and academia. University students from Allied and partner countries are contributing to a variety of projects and initiatives. The “Hacking for CNAD” programme strives to introduce fresh and innovative perspectives from student innovators on some of NATO’s biggest technology challenges.

On Friday, student teams from King’s College London’s Departments of War Studies and Defence Studies (the latter based at the UK Defence Academy) presented their solution ideas to NATO and Allied armaments experts. Innovators tackled real-life problems including developing secure ways to share information on cyber threats during operations and making ships safer by leveraging Artificial Intelligence for damage control processes.

In a 10-week course, the students applied innovation methodologies and techniques to solve complex, real-world technology challenges. The teams were mentored and coached by experts from NATO and Allied operational and technology communities. They validated the problems and developed solution ideas that may be adopted in NATO’s capability development processes.

The “Hacking for CNAD” programme runs as part of the Mission Driven Entrepreneurship™: Hacking for MoD course, organised by the Common Mission Project and the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence.