NATO Innovation Fund strengthens its organisation with a new chairperson and a geopolitical advisory council. The aim is to accelerate the development and industrialisation of new technology in Europe's defence sector.
Professor Dame Fiona Murray has been appointed as the new chairperson of the NATO Innovation Fund's board. She succeeds Klaus Hommels, who will instead take on a continued role within the fund as the chair of a newly established geopolitical and strategic council.
In a statement, Fiona Murray says that the fund's mission is now more crucial than ever:
– This is a critical time to coordinate investments in startups and technologies that can meet NATO's urgent capacity needs. It's not just about technology – it's about the alliance's future resilience.
According to the fund, the new council is intended to provide long-term support on issues related to strategy, geopolitics, and industrialisation. The aim is, among other things, to strengthen cooperation between smaller technology companies and the established defence industry in Europe.
Among the members are representatives from politics, business, and defence, including NATO's Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska, France's top military planner Admiral Pierre Vandier, and former Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren. Also included are former Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski and the EU's Special Representative for Human Rights.
According to the fund, the changes are taking place against the backdrop of increased demand for rapid technological development, a shortage of defence materiel, and a fragmented European industrial landscape. The new council is to serve as a bridge between investors, decision-makers, and the industry.
