Minister Tibor Benkő attended the two-day ministerial meeting in Brussels, NATO Headquarters on 21-22 October 2021. Allies discussed a broad range of topics on NATO's agenda, among those they exchanged views on Afghanistan, NATO's defence and deterrence, NATO-EU relations, etc. as part of Allies preparation for the Summit in 2022.

On Thursday (21 October 2021) NATO Defence Ministers discussed how to further strengthen the Alliance’s deterrence and defence, continuing NATO’s adaption to a more complex and competitive world. Ministers endorsed a new overarching plan to defend the Alliance in crisis and conflict. This will make sure NATO continues to have the right forces and capabilities, at the right place and at the right time, to protect our one billion people from any threat.

On Friday (22 October 2021), at a signing ceremony hosted by NATO’s Secretary General, Defence Ministers from 17 Allied countries* agreed to take the lead on the development of NATO’s first Innovation Fund.

At the Brussels Summit, NATO leaders committed to strengthening our Alliance, including by promoting and protecting transatlantic innovation”, the Secretary General said. “Today we are delivering on that commitment. And together we will keep our people safe in a rapidly changing world”, he added.

This multinational Fund will help NATO retain its technological edge by enabling investment – worth 1 billion euros - in dual-use technologies of potential application to defence and security. It will also facilitate closer and trusted cooperation with deep-tech innovators, which may otherwise be unable to develop successfully the innovative solutions most needed to the protection of the Alliance.

Together with NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic – or DIANA - the Innovation Fund will support the development of a protected transatlantic innovation community.

Since its launch at NATO’s Brussels Summit, a number of Allies have made offers to host the headquarters, test centres and accelerator sites that will make the DIANA network in both Europe and North America.

Both initiatives are expected to be fully in effect by NATO’s Madrid Summit in 2022.

*Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United Kingdom
On Friday (22 October 2021) Allies launched the NATO Innovation Fund to invest in cutting-edge technologies. The fund is expected to invest 1 billion euros with innovators across the Alliance working on emerging and disruptive technologies.
In tandem, NATO is creating a Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, DIANA, which will provide a network of technology test centres and accelerator sites to better harness civilian innovation for our security.  NATO Defence Ministers also agreed the Alliance’s first Artificial Intelligence strategy, which includes standards of responsible use of Al, in accordance with international law.  Ministers also met with NATO’s close partners Finland, Sweden and the European Union to discuss global challenges and how to further strengthen our cooperation.
 
Source: nato.int