Defence Science and Technology Support for National Security: An International Review.
Scientific Publication
- Report Number:
- DSTO-TN-0888
- Authors:
- Nunes-Vaz, R.; Chim, L.
- Issue Date:
- 2009-05
- AR Number:
- AR-014-513
- Classification:
- Unclassified
- Report Type:
- Technical Note
- Division:
- Counter Terrorism and Security Technology Centre (CTSTC)
- Release Authority:
- RL Counter Terrorism and Security Technology Centre
- Task Sponsor:
- DSTO
- Task Number:
- 07/239
- File Number:
- 2008/1144627/1
- Pages:
- 52
- References:
- 117
- Terms:
- Literature survey; Science and technology management; Defence policies; Science policy; Defence White Paper 2009
- URI:
- http://hdl.handle.net/1947/9994
Abstract
A critical review of open source literature enables comparison of the US, UK and Canadian approaches to the development, coordination and harnessing of science and technology for national (or homeland) security, and the relative roles of Defence and non-Defence S&T providers. The review was undertaken to inform the S&T Companion Review to the Defence White Paper, and to provide insights relevant to Australian arrangements. The analysis shows that there is: increasing effort to improve the alignment and consistency of policies and strategies relating to national security and related science and technology; growing acknowledgement of the critical national role of niche Defence S&T capabilities; greater strategic coordination of national security capability management supported by national security S&T providers, including Defence; growing recognition of the need to overcome departmental stovepipes, particularly the military/civilian divide; growing use of programmatic (or problem-based) approaches to funding, development, management and exploitation of S&T in national security; and an increasing focus on cross-Departmental collaboration, information sharing, and the promotion of enduring S&T 'communities of practice'.
Executive Summary
This paper documents the findings of a critical review of open source literature to compare US, UK and Canadian approaches to: the development of national security1 capability; the mechanisms by which science and technology (S&T) support is harnessed; and the relative roles of Defence and non-Defence S&T providers. The review was undertaken to inform the S&T Companion Review to the Defence White Paper, by contextualising Defence S&T contributions to national security goals outside strict support of Defence objectives. Its purpose was to inform attempts to improve Australian national security arrangements, based on lessons learned overseas, and to help generate a longer-term vision for S&T support to whole-of-nation strategic challenges, such as national security. The analysis shows that Canada and the UK and, from a low base, the US, are all moving to increase the application and integration of niche Defence S&T capability into national S&T programs for counter-terrorism and national (or homeland) security. Defence S&T is seen increasingly as a unique, and critical component of the national response, and one that should not be quarantined for Defence needs alone. Primary insights indicate that there is: •increasing effort to improve the alignment and consistency of policies and strategies for national (or homeland) security, national science, technology and innovation, and Defence science and technology; •growing acknowledgement of the critical national role of niche Defence S&T capabilities; •greater strategic coordination of national security capability management supported by national security S&T providers, including Defence; •growing recognition of the need to overcome departmental stovepipes, particularly the military/civilian divide; •growing use of programmatic (or problem-based) approaches to funding, development, management and exploitation of S&T in national security; and •an increasing focus on cross-Departmental collaboration, information sharing, and the promotion of enduring S&T “communities of practice”.