The "Politics and Defence & Security Engineering" working group analyses current political developments in the defence sector. It provides facts and interpretation from engineers' technological knowledge and experience.
Based on publicly available information, the working group has the following observations on the Strategic Knowledge and Innovation Agenda (SKIA) 2016-2020 published by the Minister of Defence on 1 November 2016.
General
The re-release of a new Strategic Knowledge and Innovation Agenda after five years is a good step to follow the changed developments in the Netherlands and the rest of the world. In doing so, care must be taken to ensure that the scope of content still has political relevance. This applies nationally, but also to the scope of international cooperation. It would be interesting to know to which national and international budget this SKIA applies.
Page 11-12. Spearheads
The spearheads mentioned are very interesting knowledge areas where a lot of research and development is possible. However, they are all focused on the soft side and internal aspects of Defence. In commenting on the EU Global Strategy, KIVI also indicated via EDTA that "hard power" will probably be needed again at some point in the future. Advanced sensors; artificial intelligence; command & control; low probability of intercept communication; control of the electromagnetic spectrum; remotely piloted systems (air, land, sea and underwater); advanced materials; biotechnology; kinetic interceptors, advanced training facilities and an effective underlying information infrastructure are likely to be important in the future and often cannot be bought off the shelf. Moreover, knowledge in these areas is needed to devise and implement a sound acquisition strategy.
Page16. An inclusive and consultative process
The document mainly assumes connections within the Defence sector: the "own" knowledge institutes TNO D&V, NLR, MARIN and the business community affiliated to the NIDV foundation.
In society, however, there are many more innovation actors and innovation methodologies that can connect well with the sector: universities (e.g. TUs), valleys (such as automotive technology in Eindhoven and Nanotechnology in Enschede), business sectors (such as the green energy sector and the maritime industry).
Page 17. From ambition to action
Knowledge networks can provide an excellent platform for broad knowledge sharing - and knowledge acquisition - between actors who do not have direct hierarchical, functional or contractual ties. In some technology areas Defence-wide, in others with the involvement of knowledge institutes and NIDV affiliated companies from the defence sector. In yet other areas, on the contrary, knowledge outside the sector is relevant, from universities as well as large companies and SMEs. It seems effective to let universities and companies from outside the defence sector participate in knowledge networks on relevant topics,
Page 20. Third paragraph
This paragraph indicates that in the case of promising critical technologies, "industry co-finances in principle". However, it should be noted that "industry" conceptually in society has no "financing function". Only wealthy industries are capable of co-financing themselves. The defence "ecosystem" should be made more accessible to less wealthy companies and SMEs, with the aim of broadening and strengthening the sector's industrial base.
Page 23. Spearhead growing connectedness with society
See comments above on page 16
Page 30/31 Innovation goal more flexible readiness.
Detaching military readiness as a "production process" within peacekeeping operations and linking it to one of the military-strategic functions is a good starting point. However, this does not require technological innovation, but cultural and organisational innovation. The strong centralisation and placing of support services such as information provision outside the armed forces together with the predominant management culture impose constraints on flexibility and currently limit technological potential. It is not clear howoede knowledge priority "big data" connects to this.
Pag.31. Knowledge priority big data.
Big data is an important new development across society. The 2016 Kooy symposium by KIVI and partners learned that big data in the military sector is more complex than in many other sectors of society. Regular companies and market researchers look for the proverbial needle in the haystack in big data. Military use requires searching for the needle in many haystacks, with even finding the right one being a difficult task. The working group wholeheartedly supports this knowledge priority if the elaboration includes this military focus.
Note: According to the knowledge priority, big data is used for the strategic anticipation function, but big data, by definition, cannot be limited to one specific function.
Pages 32 and 33. Tailoring weapon deployments
The observation that the armed forces should be primarily focused on adversaries using high-value hybrid warfare is perhaps somewhat limited and focused on events in the near past. These presumably offer no guarantee that in the future, adversaries will operate exclusively at the low end of the violence spectrum.
The associated knowledge priority now detracts from the need to deal with adversaries at the higher and highest end of the violence spectrum as well.
Page 39. System and system integration
The note on the self-creating naval cluster states that the cluster is considered capable of addressing integration issues. This is no longer a given.
The working group therefore strongly supports the associated knowledge priority, partly because it enables asynchronous development and international cooperation. Ref "Naval Combat Systems in the future - Imagine it is 2050", J. Wind, P.S. Rouffaer, Naval Journal, December 2004
Pages 40 and 41. Man-machine-teaming
There will be a lot more autonomous or semi-autonomous systems in society in the near future. Also for Defence. A focus on human confidence in the capabilities of machines for military use and their controllability is something the working group wholeheartedly supports.
Page 43. Open innovation in eco-system
The description gives the impression of two separate worlds: open innovation in the eco-system and closed military innovation. However, there is an important interaction: spin-in from civilian innovations to applications for military use and also spin-out from closed innovation to the rest of society. This is also referred to as dual-use. It is important to focus more on dual-use. On the one hand, to make maximum use of developments in the rest of the economy. On the other hand, to make developments commissioned by Defence available to society so that - within well-defined limits - derivative products can be developed.
Page 44. End user as innovator
The eco-system anno 2016 does not only consist of the traditional golden triangle of government, knowledge institutes and defence industry. This page rightly notes that end-users in Defence and companies outside the defence sector can also play a role. As indicated earlier, participation in Defence knowledge networks could contribute to this cooperation. KIVI as an association of all engineers might also. It is noted that end-user participation in the naval construction cluster has been the norm for very many years.
Pages 47 and 48. Faster innovation cycles
Adapting the Defence organisation to the much faster innovation in the rest of society is something the working group wholeheartedly supports. Bureaucracy and top-down steering seriously hamper effective and rapid technical innovations in large parts of the armed forces.
Page 49. SMART cooperation with Norway
Here it is indicated that a new partnership with Norway is being set up and intensified. Particularly also in the CBRN area.In this area, there was very intensive cooperation with Sweden for many years. It is not clear whether this cooperation will continue.
Pages 49-51. International
International cooperation comprises only a very small part of Defence's sub-budget available for R&D. However, this paragraph suggests that this cooperation will be greatly expanded.
Page 55. Window on the future
Technology Watch and Assessment is increasingly important in the defence sector. Especially where spin-in of civilian technology for defence applications is possible, this can lead to cost savings. Indeed, this is an activity that can be very well embedded internationally. Countries can identify spearheads and contribute where appropriate. The working group wholeheartedly supports the principles and plans chosen in this section.
With the emergence of FRONT and AIR, among others, and the decentralisation of functions in the knowledge domain to HDB, CDS, DMO, NLDA, OPCOs and various other organisational components, the risk of knowledge fragmentation must be countered. Knowledge networks in specific focus areas can provide a solution for this
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The Hague, 2 December 2016
More information can be found on the webpage of the Working Group on Politics and Defence & Security Technology.
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Disclaimer: The facts and opinions given are based on open sources and on the knowledge and experience of working group members. This is not an official position of KIVI. The association accepts no liability for anything put forward by the working group or its members.
