Open Call: NATO – STO Women & Girls in Science Challenge

The challenge invites young women and girls to submit visionary research proposals addressing pressing challenges in the field of security and defense research.

Priorities

• Proposals should aim to solve an existing issue or prevent the emergence of new threats. Each submission should address one of the following NATO Science & Technology priorities:
  • Deterrence
  • Energy
  • Resilience
  • Space
  • Climate

Benefits

• All 12 finalists will be formally recognised by the NATO Chief Scientist for their contributions to the challenge.
• Additionally, the three winners will receive an exclusive opportunity to visit the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) in La Spezia, Italy during the summer of 2025.

Eligibility Criteria

• Young women aged 18-35 who are nationals of NATO member countries and are enrolled in or have completed university-level studies in STEM fields (including social sciences). This challenge is open to university students (bachelor, master, PhD), early career researchers, or individuals interested in starting a career in STEM and/or defense.

Selection Criteria

• NATO STO experts will evaluate proposals based on their novelty, relevance, coherence, feasibility and potential positive impact.
• Up to 12 finalists will be selected to present their ideas in person at NATO Headquarters. Each finalist will deliver a 10-minute presentation followed by a 5-minute Q&A session. A panel of experts will then select three winners.

Application Requirements

• The application form will prompt applicants to provide:
  • a title for their proposal;
  • their chosen NATO Science & Technology priority;
  • relevant background information for the proposal;
  • their proposal’s relevance to defense and security;
  • clear scientific objectives;
  • key scientific topics to be addressed; and
  • their proposal’s potential societal impact.

For more information, visit NATO.