NATO heads of state and government approved on 8 July 2026, at the summit in Ankara (Turkey), a new framework for industrial cooperation called SYNC (Strategy for Industry-NATO Cooperation).
According to NATO, SYNC will improve industry's access to the Alliance, provide greater transparency regarding allied nations' future capability requirements, and simplify engagement with NATO for companies of all sizes, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and new suppliers.
The strategy is built on three main objectives: strengthened communication and cooperation with industry, promotion of innovation and interoperability, and the strengthening and scaling of defence production within the Alliance.
As the primary platform for dialogue with industry, NATO Front Door for Industry (NFDI) is being established to bring together procurement opportunities and innovation initiatives within NATO in one place. Aggregated demand signals from NATO's Defence Planning Process (NDPP) will be shared with industry, and thematic workshops will be directed particularly towards SMEs and start-up companies.
To scale up production, NATO Engine is also being launched, a network designed to connect manufacturers with spare production capacity to companies, particularly non-traditional suppliers, that require facilities to increase their output. NATO describes the model as "contractor- or factory-for-hire".
NATO states that SYNC upgrades the existing framework for industrial cooperation and reflects the growing role of industry in strengthening the Alliance's deterrence and defence.
A detailed implementation plan is to be developed in close cooperation with industry. According to the strategy document, the plan is to be drawn up by the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD) by October 2026 at the latest.