Deadline: 1 June 2020
The NATO Science for Peace & Security (SPS) Programme enhances security-related civil science and technology to address emerging security challenges and their impact on international security. It connects scientists, experts and officials from NATO and partner nations to work together to address these challenges.
Through the Programme, NATO has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to science, innovation and practical cooperation with partners. Today, through a balanced 360° approach, SPS promotes practical cooperation based on these core dimensions that define its identity:
- Science: The SPS Programme helps to foster research, innovation, applied science and technology, as well as knowledge exchange in an effort to address common security challenges. As a brand, SPS has a very wide network extending to hundreds of universities and institutions across Allied nations and partner countries.
- Partnership: The collaborative framework of the Programme brings together scientists, experts and policy makers from Allied and partner countries to address today’s security challenges. SPS is well known as one of the most important partnership programmes that is available to all partners, proving that practical cooperation is achievable across political barriers through scientific exchange.
- Security: According to the scope of the SPS Programme and guidance from NATO nations, all projects developed under SPS must have a security dimension. This is also reflected in the SPS Key Priorities developed by Allies.
- Unconventional issues: The SPS Programme’s primary purpose is to strengthen NATO’s partnership policy. Following a comprehensive Strategic Assessment of the SPS Programme in 2013, it has grown to include projects that encompass capacity building, hybrid threats and Women Peace and Security UNSCR 1325, while preserving the important scientific dimension of the Programme.
Priorities
This call solicits proposals addressing one or more of the SPS Key Priorities as listed:
- Facilitate mutually beneficial cooperation on issues of common interest, including international efforts to meet emerging security challenges:
- Counter-Terrorism
- Energy Security
- Cyber Defence
- Defence against CBRN Agents
- Environmental Security
- Enhance support for NATO-led operations and missions:
- Provision of civilian support through SPS Key Priorities;
- Provision of access to information through internet connectivity as in the SILK-Afghanistan Programme;
- Cultural and social aspects in military operations and missions;
- Enhancing cooperation with other international actors.
- Enhance awareness on security developments including through early warning, with a view to preventing crises:
- Security-related Advanced Technology: Emerging technologies including nanotechnology, optical technology, micro satellites, metallurgy and the development of UAV platforms.
- Border and Port Security
- Mine and Unexploded Ordnance Detection and Clearance
Eligibility Criteria
- The SPS Programme provides support and expert advice for security-relevant activities in the form of four established grant mechanisms: Multi-Year Projects (MYP), Advanced Research Workshops (ARW), Advanced Training Courses (ATC), and Advanced Study Institutes (ASI).
- Participation in the SPS Programme enables experts and scientists to develop innovative solutions to today’s security challenges, and to build partnerships with their peers in NATO and partner nations.
- As one of the principal goals of the Science for Peace and Security Programme is to promote cooperation between NATO countries and NATO partner nations, only applications from researchers in those countries can be accepted.
- NATO Countries: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.
- NATO partner Countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Egypt, Finland, Georgia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Malta, Mauritania, Republic of Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan.
Note: SPS supports projects in the field of security-related civilian science and/or related to dual-use applications. Proposals that have pure military objectives should be addressed to different programmes, in particular the NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO) Collaboration Support Office (CSO).
How to Apply
Interested applicants should develop proposals for activities that fit within one of the formats. Details on where to find application instructions and templates can be found on the given website.
For more information, visit https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/172942.htm