Cooperation in the area of defence and security technology within Europe has proven not to be easy.
National security policies, budget spending restrictions, assumed lack of control and a trace of nationalism hamper governments and companies to work across borders. Lack of knowledge about the excellent capabilities of companies in other member states decreases the likelihood of cooperation even more.

A large number of participating member states (pMS) in the EU spend relatively small amounts on development of defence and security technology and systems. Their industrial base of larger companies and SMEs is similarly small. Added to which existing national policies to improve their industrial base tend to discourage cooperation.

EDA and the EC have launched several initiatives to encourage better information exchange, new tools for cooperation, rules for defence investments, databases of companies and investments specifically directed towards improving involvement of the less involved pMS.

It is however not all about money and rules. A relatively informal network built by companies, universities and other entities could also help to improve cooperation and increase mutual benefit. The session will be introduced by Col. Prof. Dr. ing. Ioan Nicolaescu of the Military Technical Academy (MTA) of Bucharest in Romania. Prof. Nicolaescu has started cooperation between his university and the International Research Centre for Telecommunications and Radar (IRCTR) of the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands in 1996. Not by placing major investments, but by exchange of students and lecturers, exchange of information and mutual participation in R&D projects. This has created a network of trusted researchers and engineers ready to cooperate on future projects.

Col. Nicolaescu will introduce the debate session by explaining the goals, means and results of the cooperation between his institute and the university of Delft.
During the following debate questions will be raised how formal and informal tools and methodologies could be used or improved to foster cross border cooperation between companies, universities and governments on defence and security technology in Europe.

Prior to the conference potential participants will be asked to contribute their views and questions.

Introduction:   Col.Prof. Dr. Ing. Ioan Nicolaescu, Military Technical University (MTA) of Bucharest, Romania
Coördination:  Dr. Sadhbh Mc Carthy, Centre of Irish and International Studies (CIES), Dublin, Ireland