70 YEARS OF COLLABORATIVE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY A rich history of scientific and technological advancement paved with important milestones The strength to refine and employ new technologies has for decades provided countries in the NATO alliance with a multitude of cutting-edge capabilities to ensure military advantage, provide security to our societies, and protect the sovereignty of our democracies. Global technological leadership has been the foundation upon which NATO’s ability to deter and defend against potential threats ultimately rests. The NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO) has a rich history dating back to 1952, dedicated to ensuring that NATO maintains this technological and military edge over competitors and adversaries. Throughout these 70 years, STO and its predecessor organizations have fostered an international community of world class scientists, engineers, and military operators to meet the challenges and opportunities driven by rapidly evolving technologies through an exchange of knowledge, experiences and perspectives across NATO.
2021
The end of the Cold War led to reductions in NATO member military budgets and the drive toward better coordination of pooled resources and avoidance of duplicated efforts.
1999
Scientific results cannot be used efficiently by soldiers who have no understanding of them, and scientists cannot produce results useful for warfare without an understanding of the operations.
1967 1952 Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development (AGARD) Led by Professor Dr. Theodore von Kármán and his collaborative vision, AGARD is founded in April 1952 to foster the interchange of information relating to aerospace research and development between NATO nations and provide scientific and technical advice and assistance to the NATO Military Committee.
1958 NATO Science Committee
The desire of NATO Heads of Government to improve the coordination and effectiveness of the Alliance’s scientific and technological resources leads to creation of the NATO Science Committee, along with the joint post of Science Advisor to the Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General for Scientific Affairs.
1963
Defence Research Group (DRG)
Defence Research Director’s Committee (DRDC)
Major NATO reorganization in cooperative action for research and technology leads to abolishment of the DRDC. Its responsibilities are taken up by the Defence Research Group (DRG), which reports to the NATO military Authorities and the newly established Conference of Armaments Directors (CNAD)
The Defence Research Director’s Committee (DRDC) becomes a permanent and independent committee of NATO. It attempts to bridge both the civil and military aspects of science at NATO. DRDC provides scientific and technical advice to NATO’s Military Authorities on the formulation of operational requirements.
Science and Technology Organization (STO)
Modelling & Simulation Group (NMSG) and Coordination Office (MSCO)
1998
— Dr. Theodore von Kármán
NATO Research and Technology Organization (RTO)
The NATO Modelling & Simulation Group and Modelling & Simulation Coordination Office (MSCO) are created to help improve the cost-effectiveness of Alliance operations (e.g., defence planning, training, exercises, support to operations, research, technology development and armaments acquisition).
Launch of NATO 2030
2012
Our founder was driven by a wise philosophy:
The current STO structure is established on 1 July 2012, bringing with it a renamed Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) and Collaboration Support Office (CSO), and the new Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) to combine 60 years of expertise and a legacy of achievements that continues today.
NATO 2030 is an ambitious agenda focused on making sure NATO remains ready, strong, and united for a new era of increased global competition and increased threats, including new disruptive technologies and climate change. STO has a critical role in delivering innovation, advice, and science and technology solutions to meet NATO’s ever-changing needs and ensuring that NATO maintains its technological edge.
The need for more cohesion and cost-effectiveness, and a single focus in NATO for air, land, sea and space research activities, results in AGARD and DRG merging to form the NATO Research and Technology Organization (RTO).
1959
The SACLANT ASW Research Centre was established in 1959 to provide scientific and technical advice to the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT) in the field of antisubmarine warfare and to respond to the needs of NATO nations and maritime commands.
1987 In 1987 SACLANT ASW Research Centre changed its name to the SACLANT Undersea Research Centre. It reflected both changes within the NATO military organization (end of Cold War) and changing priorities in the research program.
2003
In 2003 the SACLANT Undersea Research Centre became NURC – NATO Undersea Research Centre. Finally, in 2012 the name was changed to the current CMRE – Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation.