NATO launches Innovation Challenge

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) officials recently launched this year’s initial Innovation Challenge, which organizers said seeks to find ways for NATO to respond to security challenges and crises.

NATO officials said they are seeking solutions from entrepreneurs, designers, marketers, thinkers, engineers, coders and inventors as a means of preventing electromagnetic pulse damage, mitigating the effects on critical infrastructure and capabilities and ensuring rapid recovery – adding the winner will get stage time at NATO events, as well as access to contract opportunities. Registration is open until April 24 and the award ceremony will take place May 30 in Brno, the Czech Republic.

NATO authorities said electromagnetic pulse, which is generated by a large solar flare or a weapon, possesses the capability to damage systems reliant on electricity, from smartphones and ATMs to nuclear power facilities, hospitals, and military command and control systems.

The enormous security repercussions are the reason electromagnetic pulse concerns

was selected as the topic for this year’s Innovation Challenge.

Co-organized by the NATO Innovation Hub and the Defense and Security Innovation Hub, the previous competition occurred in late 2018 and focused on autonomous drone development. There were 30 competitors and ten finalists who pitched their solutions to a jury of military experts and academics. The winners were Belgian start-up ALX Systems and Dutch high-tech company Delft Dynamics.