Nordic-Baltic research alliance to accelerate defence innovation

Combined, these organisations represent around 10,000 engineers, researchers and specialists, as well as extensive research and technology infrastructure. The aim is to accelerate the development and deployment of new technologies applicable to defence.

The initiative is driven by a rapidly changing security environment, highlighting the need to strengthen European defence capabilities, enhance strategic autonomy and improve the resilience of supply chains. RTO4DEF seeks to bridge the gap between defence requirements and industrial solutions, while enabling the integration of civilian dual-use technologies into defence applications.
 

The organisations have committed to:

• developing shared technology foresight and roadmaps for security and resilience,
• coordinating testbeds and validation facilities for critical systems and solutions,
• providing rapid, coordinated expert support in technologies, standards and industrial capabilities relevant to Total Defence, and
• strengthening security of supply and resilience across the Total Defence system.

VTT contributes to the alliance with its expertise in translating civilian technologies into defence capabilities across all operational domains — land, sea, air, cyber and space. Its long-standing collaboration with the Finnish Defence Forces provides strong insight into real operational requirements.

VTT is also an active participant in international defence and innovation networks. For example, VTT hosts the NATO DIANA innovation accelerator and test centres in Finland. In addition, it provides access to specialised testing environments, such as its large-scale drone test site in Northern Finland.

The Nordic-Baltic collaboration aims to strengthen Europe’s ability to respond to both current and future security challenges by turning research cooperation into concrete capability development. The initiative is also aligned with NORDEFCO’s Vision 2030, which seeks to deepen Nordic defence cooperation.