On 13 June 2025, the Research Division of the NATO Defense College (NDC) hosted a workshop on defence innovation with a particular focus on Italy. Bringing together subject-matter experts from NATO entities, Italian institutions and the defence industry, this event provided an overview of the Italian defence ecosystem and opened a dialogue on how to optimize NATO’s defence innovation efforts.
The workshop started with opening remarks delivered by the NDC Dean, Dr Suzanne C. Nielsen, followed by a keynote address delivered by the Hon. Massimo Artini, recently elected Vice President of DIANA, who highlighted DIANA’s priorities for the future of innovation and noted that “defence innovation is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity.”
Moderated by NDC Researcher Dr Roderick Parkes and Mr Alberto Rizzi (European Council on Foreign Relations), the sessions fostered dialogue and collaboration between experts from NATO’s Innovation, Hybrid, & Cyber (IHC) Division, the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), Italian public institutions and stakeholders from the defence industry.
The roundtable discussions explored NATO’s approach to deep tech investment, defence innovation and the importance of promoting a culture of experimentation within the Alliance. They also addressed the drivers and challenges of innovation in Italy, along with the various initiatives implemented by the Italian authorities. A key aspect of the workshop was to contextualize Italy’s innovation priorities within the broader frameworks of NATO and the European Union, and extract valuable insights from Italy’s experience in order to inform NATO’s wider innovation efforts.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Chloé Ketels, FRA C)
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