THE “THIRD” DIMENSION OF NATO
ACTIVITIES - PROMOTION OF SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Prof. Stefan Hadjitodorov,
BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Tel.: +359 2 79 5215Fax: +359 2 981 6629
E-mail: sthadj@bas.bg
NATO Science Program
The Science for Peace and Security Programme (SPS) is a
policy tool for enhancing cooperation and dialogue with all
partners, based on civil science and innovation, to
contribute to the Alliance’s core goals and to address the
priority areas for dialogue and cooperation identified in the
new partnership policy.
Science is both a means of finding answers to critical
questions and a way of connecting nations.
• Founded in 1958, the Programme contributes towards the Alliance’s
core goals and promotes regional cooperation through scientific
projects and activities. Over its long history, the SPS Programme has
continuously adapted to the demands of the times. To this end, a
comprehensive reorientation of the Programme took place in 2013,
which gave SPS a renewed focus on larger scale strategic activities
beyond purely scientific cooperation.
• The SPS Programme now promotes civil, security-related practical
cooperation, and focuses on a growing range of contemporary security
challenges, including terrorism, defence against chemical, biological,
radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents, cyber defence, energy
security and environmental concerns, as well as human and social
aspects of security
NATO Science Committee
One of the most efficient
international funding source
supporting joint research activities
in given scientific priority areas
Science for Peace and Security
since 2011
PRIORITY AREAS OF SUPPORT
• Facilitate mutually beneficial cooperation on issues of common
interest, including international efforts to meet emerging security
challenges
• Enhance support for NATO-led operations and missions
• Enhance awareness on security developments including through
early warning, with a view to preventing crises
• Any project related clearly to a threat to security not otherwise
defined in these priorities may also be considered for funding under
the SPS Programme. Such proposals will be examined for links to
NATO’s Strategic Objectives.
Facilitate mutually beneficial cooperation on issues of common interest,
including international efforts to meet emerging security challenges
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Counter-Terrorism
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Energy Security
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Critical infrastructure protection, including sharing of best practices, capacity building and policies;
Support in developing cyber defence capabilities, including new technologies and support to the construction of information
technology infrastructure;
Cyber defence situation awareness.
Defence against CBRN Agents
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Innovative energy solutions for the military; battlefield energy solutions; renewable energy solutions with military applications;
Energy infrastructure security;
Maritime aspects of energy security;
Technological aspects of energy security.
Cyber Defence
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Methods for the protection of critical infrastructure, supplies and personnel;
Human factors in the defence against terrorism;
Detection technologies against the terrorist threat for explosive devices and other illicit activities;
Risk management, best practices and technologies in response to terrorism.
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.
Environmental Security
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Security issues arising from key environmental and resource constraints, including health risks, climate change, water scarcity
and increasing energy needs, which have the potential to significantly affect NATO’s planning and operations;
Disaster forecast and prevention of natural catastrophes;
Defence-related environmental issues.
Enhance support for NATO-led operations and missions
– Provision of civilian support through SPS Key Priorities;
– Provision of access to information through internet
connectivity as in the SILK-Afghanistan Programme;
– Cultural and social aspects in military operations and
missions;
– Enhancing cooperation with other international actors.
Enhance awareness on security developments including through
early warning, with a view to preventing crises
– Security-related Advanced Technology
• Emerging technologies including nanotechnology, optical technology, micro
satellites, metallurgy and the development of UAV platforms.
– Border and Port Security
• Border and port security technology;
• Cross border communication systems and data fusion;
• Expert advice and assessments of border security needs and best practice.
– Mine and Unexploded Ordnance Detection and Clearance
• Development and provision of advanced technologies, methodologies and best
practice;
• Solutions to counter improvised explosive devices (IED).
– Human and Social Aspects of Security related to NATO’s strategic objectives
Any project related clearly linked to a threat to security not otherwise defined in these
priorities may also be considered for funding under the SPS Programme. Such proposals
will be examined for links to NATO’s Strategic Objectives.
GRANT MECHANISMS
The SPS Programme supports collaboration through
three established grant mechanisms:
• multi-year research & development projects,
• research workshops,
• training courses.
Multi-year R & D projects
• What: These are research and development projects related to
NATO’s strategic goals and relevant to the SPS Key Priorities.
• Duration: typical duration of 3 to 4 years.
• Target Audience: Applications are submitted jointly by an expert
residing and working in a NATO country and one residing and
working in a Partner country. Projects involving more than one
Partner country are encouraged, as is the participation of young
scientists.
• Budget: NATO funds are provided to cover project-related costs such as
scientific equipment, computers, software and training of project personnel
as well as of young scientists: roughly half of the budget is generally
allocated to equipment, about 20% to training and travel and 15% to
stipends; these proportions may vary according to the needs of each project
Multi-year R & D projects
 Project Proposal and Project Plan - the first step involves
submitting a short project proposal for evaluation by the ISEG.
If the project proposal is selected, a planning grant will be
awarded in order for the applicants to develop a detailed
Project Plan (step two)
Advanced Research Workshop (ARW)
• What: Advanced-level discussions between qualified
experts from different countries with the aim of addressing
contemporary security challenges
• Duration: 2-5 days
• Target Audience: 20-50 participants, with the workshop
preferably being held in the Partner country.
• Budget: The SPS grant (average amount: 30,000 to 40,000
EUR) is intended to cover direct organizational expenses of the
ARW (should not exceed 25% of the NATO grant), the travel
and living expenses of key speakers, as well as the attendance of
non-speakers from NATO countries and Partner countries unable
to obtain support from other sources.
Training courses
Advanced Study Institutes (ASI)
• What: This is a high-level tutorial course offering the latest
developments in a NATO-relevant subject to an advanced-level
audience.
• Duration: An ASI lasts about 7 working days. Lecturers of
international standing report new advances on topics of securityrelated civil science.
• Target Audience: Post-doctoral level scientists with a relevant
background in the subject matter of the course. In particular, young
scientists from NATO Partner countries are encouraged to attend.
• Budget: The SPS grant (average 60,000 EUR) pays for direct organizational
costs, travel and living expenses of up to 15 lecturers and attendance of
students (60 to 80) from countries eligible to receive NATO funding.
Advanced Training Courses (ATC)
• What: This is a course designed to enable specialists in NATO countries to
share their security-related expertise in one of the SPS Key Priority areas.
An ATC is not intended to be lecture-driven, but to be intensive and
interactive in nature. The course contributes to the training of experts in
Partner countries and enables the formation and strengthening of
international expert networks.
• Target Audience: Trainees (20 to 50) primarily from Partner countries.
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: The SPS grant (average 60,000 EUR) pays for direct organizational
costs, travel and living expenses of all specialists and attendance costs of
trainees from countries eligible to receive NATO funding.
Selection procedure
• The deadlines for 2015 are as follows:
- 1 March
- 1 July
- 1 October
• Reviewed by the Independent Scientific
Evaluation Group (ISEG).
• As a decision on funding can take up to 9 months
following an application deadline, it is important to take
this into consideration when proposing dates for an
activity.
NATIONAL GRANTS/AWARDS
total number -271
Number of Grants
Number of Grants
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
39
29
15
9
16
18
29
21
16
10
11
Year
13
10
8
7
7
6
3
2
2
Country distribution - Partner country
Number of grants
8
7
7
7
6
6
5
4
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
0
Partner country
1
1
1
1
Science for Peace Projects
So far the Bulgarian scientists have been
granted 17 Science for Peace Planning
Grants and 14 Science for Peace
Projects Grants.
Research field of SfP projects
Number of projects
Science for Peace Priority Area
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
15
9
6
1
ESP
CBP
Priority area
ICS
HSD
Distribution by co-director’s country
Number of Grants
Grantee Distribution
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
162
67
42
7
BAS
University of Sofia
Other institutions
Institution/Organization
Joint projects BAS/US;
BAS/TU
Particularly successful projects
• High Power and High Efficiency Cooper Bromide Laser for
Precision Materials, Institute of Solid State Physics –
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), University of
Bayreuth, Germany and other partners from Italy and
Poland;
• Dynamics, Evolution and Limitation of Heavy Metals Water
Pollution in the Plovdiv Region (Bulgaria), Geological
Institute - BAS, and partners from France and Belgium;
• High Power and High Frequency Devices, Institute of
Applied Physics - BAS, Foundation for Research &
Technology, Greece
Particularly successful projects
• Alternative Approaches of Bioproduction of Alkaloids and Active
Substances from Bulgarian Rare and Threatened Medicinal PlantsInstitute of Botany, BAS; Institute of Microbiology, BAS ; Bulgarian pharmaceutical
company Sopharma JFCo; Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (France);University
Paul Sabatier, CNRS, Toulouse (France)
• Improving the Reliability of Large Welded Structures by Local
Explosive Treatment- Institute of Metal Science, BAS;Technical University of
Brauschweig, Brauschweig, Germany
• PREPARATION AND PERFORMANCE OF POROUS ELECTRO- &
PHOTO-CATALYTIC COATINGS- Institute of Physical Chemistry, BAS; Institute
of Catalysis, BAS; Department of General & Inorganic Chemistry, Sofia University, Physical
Chemistry Lab, Chemistry Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
;School of Chemical, Envi-ronmental and Mining Engineering, University of
Nottingham, UK; ATARO CLIMA, Plovdiv;CHIMATECH, Sofia; PRESTA ENGINEERING
Ltd, Sofia
Other data
• Panel members
After year 2000 six Bulgarian scientists have been
members of Science and Technology Policy Panel;
Environmental Science and Technology Panel; Human
and Societal Dynamics Panel.
• Participation in ASI and ARW
more than 1250 Bulgarian scientists were included
among the participants in ASIs and ARWs (2/3 from
BAS).
• Financing
The projects and activities with Bulgarian participation
so far have been funded by more than 8 500 000 Euro
CONCLUSIONS
• Counting the grants awarded over the period 1993-2008
Bulgaria ranks 6-th place within the Partner countries –
after Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic and
Hungary.
About 80 % of the grants awarded are in traditionally strong fields
in Bulgarian R&D as information technologies, materials science,
life science and agriculture.
Personal and institutional contacts established on the base of
successful bilateral cooperation and memberships in various
international scientific organizations and associations are important
prerequisite for developing competitive projects.
CONCLUSIONS
 Bulgarian scientists have the experience and competence to
disclose and define properly the important and real economical and
environmental problems, which are set as project objectives. Clear
project goals are between the most important requirements and
prerequisites for funding.
 The insufficient financial resources for R&D in Bulgaria, the
favorable application procedures and the enhanced competence in
preparing project proposals, combined with a high number of good
proposals have led to an average success rate for the Bulgarian
projects of about 12-13% which is higher than the average success
rate for the NATO Science Programs as a whole.
• Bulgarian scientists are active participants and already
effectively integrated into NATO Scientific community.
THANK YOU FOR YOR
ATTENTION!