CFPs: Science for Peace and Security Programme

The SPS Programme promotes civil security-related practical cooperation based on scientific research, innovation and knowledge exchange. It links the scientific community to NATO through civil science cooperation that addresses emerging security challenges. Through SPS activities, civilians – including researchers, academics and experts – play an important role in helping the Alliance identify, understand and respond to vulnerabilities and threats.

Objectives

• The SPS Programme offers funding, expert advice and support to tailor-made, civil security-relevant activities that respond to NATO’s strategic objectives.
  • The SPS Programme enhances practical, result-oriented cooperation involving scientists, experts and government officials from NATO member and partner countries alike.
  • It responds and adapts to the changing security environment to support NATO’s strategic objectives and political priorities in its relations with partner countries.
  • The SPS Programme makes contributions to NATO’s efforts to project stability and build capacity in partner countries.
  • SPS activities are guided by security-related priorities such as counter-terrorism, cyber defence, advanced technologies, energy and environmental security, and threats posed by chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) hazards.
  • Over the past five years, the Programme has initiated more than 200 collaborative activities among NATO member states and partner countries.

Priorities

• Environment, Climate Change and Security
  • Understanding, mitigating and adapting to the impact of climate change on security, including military operations and missions;
  • Increased awareness on security issues arising from key environmental and climate change challenges, including health risks, scarcity of resources, increasing energy needs, and space weather events;
  • Approaches to reduce the environmental impact of military activities;
  • Disaster forecast and prevention of climate-related natural catastrophes.
• Energy Security
  • Dual-use innovative energy solutions; battlefield energy solutions; renewable energy solutions with dual-use applications;
  • Energy infrastructure security, including technological aspects of energy security;
  • Energy transition by design, i.e. transition from fossil fuels to innovative and more sustainable energy sources;
  • Energy supply chain.
• Innovation and Emerging Disruptive Technologies (EDTs)
  • Emerging technologies with the potential of having a profound impact on security, including:
    • artificial intelligence (AI);
    • autonomy;
    • quantum;
    • biotechnologies and human enhancement;
    • space;
    • novel materials and manufacturing;
    • energy and propulsion;
    • next-generation communications networks;
  • Defence against adversarial use of EDTs;
  • Advanced and novel technologies in the field of security.
• Counter-terrorism
  • Detection technologies against the terrorist threat of explosive devices and other illicit activities;
  • Solutions to Counter Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED);
  • Defence against terrorism misuse of technology, for example Countering Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS);
  • Human factors in the defence against terrorism, including Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE);
  • Risk management, best practices and technologies in response to terrorism, including Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defence.
• Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) and Explosive Hazards Management
  • Mine and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) detection;
  • Methods and technology regarding the protection against, diagnosing effects, detection, decontamination, destruction, disposal and containment of CBRN Agents;
  • Risk management and recovery strategies and technologies;
  • Medical countermeasures against CBRN Agents.
• Defence against Hybrid Threats
  • Technological solutions and approaches to prepare, deter and defend against the coercive use of political, energy, information and other hybrid tactics by states and non-state actors;
  • Solutions and approaches to prepare, deter and defend against hybrid tactics, both directly and through proxies, as authoritarian actors challenge their interests, values and democratic way of life;
  • Practical tools to monitor, analyse, raise awareness on, and counter disinformation, including through cooperation with technological industries and social media platforms, such as generative artificial intelligence and deep fakes;
  • AI tools, including reverse image technology, to detect malicious information activities;
  • Early warning tools to detect potential hybrid activities, including in the information space.
• Resilience
  • Solutions to strengthen national preparedness;
  • Crisis management and civil preparedness, including inter-agency coordination mechanisms;
  • Digital resilience, including methods, procedures and technologies to ensure continuity of digital services during crises;
  • Protection of critical infrastructure, supplies and personnel;
  • Border and port security technologies.
• Critical Underwater Infrastructure
  • Monitoring and protection of critical underwater infrastructure;
  • Technology for the detection of threats on surface and underwater;
  • Protection of harbours and infrastructures in shallow waters.
• Cyber Defence
  • Technologies to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of communication networks;
  • Support in developing cyber defence technologies and infrastructure;
  • Best practices and information sharing;
  • Cyber defence situational awareness;
  • Cyber support to operations and missions.
• Assessing and addressing threats posed by the Russian Federation
  • Approaches and tools to counter hostile information activities (including disinformation) against Allies and Partners;
  • Identification of trends and lessons learned for hybrid threats emanating from the Russian Federation.
• Strategic Foresight
  • Main trends in international security and associated implications;
  • Regional strategies in the field of defence and security;
  • Understanding of the future security environment;
  • Early warning systems and indicators.
• Human and Social Aspects of Security
  • Women, Peace and Security (WPS);
  • Human Security;
  • Cultural and social aspects in operations and missions.
• Operational Support
  • Identifying and sharing best practices in operations and missions;
  • Civilian support to operations and missions.
• Other
  • Any other proposal clearly linked to the implementation of NATO’s core tasks may also be considered for funding under the SPS Programme.

Funding Information

• SPS supports scientific cooperation through established grant mechanisms that provide funding for Multi-Year Projects and Events. Supported Events include Advanced Research Workshops (ARW), Advanced Study Institutes (ASI), and Advanced Training Courses (ATC).
• Interested applicants must develop a collaborative activity that fits within one of the formats listed below and meets at least one SPS Key Priority. All SPS activities must be developed and managed following the guidance provided in the SPS Handbooks for Multi-Year Projects and Events.
  • Multi-Year Projects (MYP)
    • What: Multi-Year Projects (MYP) are Research and Development (R&D) projects that enable scientists from NATO and its Partner nations to collaborate on applied R&D and capacity building projects that result in new civil science advancements with practical application in the security and defence fields. MYPs enable participants to increase contacts in scientific communities while building a stronger scientific infrastructure in their home countries. Sustainability is ensured through the involvement of end-users offering advice and guidance throughout the lifetime of the projects with the aim of taking up and implementing the results. Projects involving more than one NATO country and one Partner nation are encouraged, as is the participation of early stage researchers.
    • Duration: Projects have a typical duration of 24 to 36 months.
    • Budget: Typically EUR 250,000-400,000 over the entire duration of the project. NATO SPS funds support project-specific costs linked to specific milestones, and may cover costs such as scientific equipment, computers, software and training of project personnel. MYP grants support early stage researchers through stipends, and can co-finance personnel costs of staff involved in the project.
  • Advanced Research Workshops (ARW)
    • What: Advanced Research Workshops (ARW) provide a platform for experts and scientists from different countries to share their experience and knowledge on security-related topics. ARWs also serve to formulate recommendations and conclusions for policy or further study, and to foster partnerships among experts from different countries, often leading to the formation of new research collaborations.
    • Duration: 2-5 working days.
    • Target Audience: 20-50 participants.
    • Budget: Typically EUR 30,000-40,000. The SPS grant is intended to cover direct organizational expenses of the ARW, the travel and living expenses of key speakers, as well as the attendance of non-speakers from NATO member countries and Partner nations unable to obtain support from other sources.
  • Advanced Study Institutes (ASI)
    • What: Advanced Study Institutes (ASI) are high-level tutorial courses conveying the latest developments in topics of relevance for NATO and the SPS Key Priorities to an advanced-level audience.
    • Duration: 7-10 working days.
    • Target Audience: 60-80 pre- and post-doctoral level scientists with relevant backgrounds in the subject matter of the course. Early stage researchers from NATO Partner nations are especially encouraged to attend.
    • Budget: On average EUR 60,000. The SPS grant pays for direct organizational costs, travel and living expenses for up to 15 lecturers, and for the attendance of students from countries eligible to receive NATO SPS funding.
  • Advanced Training Courses (ATC)
    • What: Advanced Training Courses (ATC) are tailor-made, modular courses designed to enable specialists in NATO countries to share their security-related expertise in one of the SPS Key Priority areas. ATCs are not intended to be lecture-driven, but to be intensive, interactive and practical in nature. Courses contribute to the training of experts in Partner nations and enable the formation and strengthening of international expert networks.
    • Target Audience: 20-50 trainees primarily from Partner nations. These trainees are chosen on the basis of their qualifications and experience, and the benefit they may draw from the ATC in their future activities.
    • Duration: 5-7 working days.
    • Budget: On average EUR 60,000. The SPS grant covers direct organizational costs, travel and living expenses of all specialists, and attendance costs of trainees from countries eligible to receive NATO funding.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications for funding must be developed jointly by a NATO country Project Director (NPD) and a Partner country Project Director (PPD). To be deemed eligible for funding, proposals submitted to the SPS Programme must:
  • contribute towards NATO’s Strategic Objectives and have a clear link to security;
  • address at least one of the SPS Key Priorities;
  • involve only individuals who are nationals of a NATO member country or a NATO Partner country;
  • be led by an NPD who is resident and employed in a NATO member country, and a PPD who is resident and employed in a NATO Partner nation;
  • be developed and implemented by co-directors affiliated with a government, academic, or other non-profit institutions. For-profit private companies are not eligible for SPS funding;
  • include realistic plans and budgets;
  • be developed and managed in alignment with rules and regulations outlined in relevant SPS handbooks.
• Individual applicants should note that they may not hold more than one SPS grant at a time. Prospective co-directors should ensure that any other SPS activity directed by either of them is formally closed before applying.

For more information, visit NATO.