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Jun 7 2023

NCI Agency CTO discusses technology innovation challenges and opportunities at TechNet


On 7 June 2023, the NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency Chief Technology Officer Antonio Calderón provided a keynote speech at the TechNet conference organized by AFCEA Belgium in Brussels.


The two-day event, titled "Innovation Now - The Pressing Technology Demand of NATO and the EU," featured the newest technologies and solutions in a wide range of IT-related areas of interest for the defence and public security community.

NCI Agency CTO discusses technology innovation challenges and opportunities at TechNet

Calderón delivered a captivating presentation themed "Technology Innovation in the NATO Context: Challenges and Opportunities". In his address, the CTO highlighted the necessity for NATO to maintain a strong scientific and technical capacity across all domains as a consequence of the rapid evolution of the political and technological landscape demands.

"The NCI Agency works to maintain high levels of operational readiness, support effective and resilient consultation, command and control (C3) activities, ensure its NATO's digital transformation, and inject tangible innovation," explained Calderón.

Furthermore, the CTO underscored the NCI Agency's particular operational environment in order to address the nuances that arise when implementing innovative solutions in the NATO context: "Effective innovation within NATO requires consideration of a wide range of technical and non-technical elements, such as operational factors, policy implications, security requirements, interoperability, and lifecycle management. These considerations shape the agency's approach to driving innovation and ensuring its successful integration within the NATO framework," expressed the CTO.

The TechNet International Conference provided a valuable platform for industry professionals, policymakers, and experts to exchange ideas and explore avenues for collaboration. Antonio Calderón's participation is a testament to the importance of technology innovation in the NATO context and its impact on maintaining NATO's competitive edge.