On 18 and 19 February, the NCI Agency in The Hague hosted a visit by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics (FKIE).
On the first day of the visit, the German delegations were welcomed and introduced to the Agency by Acting Director Service Supply, COL (GS) Heiko Muehlmann, and Executive Coordinator, LTC (GS) Rainer Simon. In turn, an overview of BAAINBw and the FKIE Institute were provided by CAPT Dr Thomas Daum, Dr Gustav Wostrack, Prof Dr Christopher Schlick, and Dr Michael Wunder respectively. The overview contained an update on the new planning, development, procurement process within the German Armed Forces and major German IT projects with focus on the life-cycle, as well as possibilities and capabilities of the FKIE Institute. A high priority lies there in the development of a harmonized C2IS for the Bundeswehr, Community of interest enabling services as well as Community of Interest specific services, with special focus on existing NATO products.
Representatives from all the NCI Agency directorates and branches including Demand Management, Service Supply and Service Strategy provided to the delegations an overview of products and services that the Agency delivers to NATO and Nations. That included also dedicated information for possible future cooperation between the NCI Agency and Germany. LTC Oliver Geerman from Service Delivery in Mons explained roles and functions with focus on current missions. Furthermore, briefings were held on the procurement process within NATO, on major IT projects in the area of the Future Mission Network, core services, functional areas services, the CFBL and DNBL functions. and services provided by the NCI Agency.
Germany published in 2012 a national IT strategy in which the intensified use of NATO products is required. Both, the BAAINBw as well as the FKIE Institute expressed their interest in getting into closer cooperation with the NCI Agency, through intensified use of the DNBL as well by analysing opportunities for use of NCI Agency’s products (not at least with view on the C4 MoA to be signed between the NCI Agency and Germany in the coming weeks).
Overall, the visit was well appreciated by all participants and an excellent first step into further liaison.
German IT Office and FKIE Institute visit the NCI Agency