On the 73rd anniversary of NATO’s foundation, 4 April, IdD Portugal Defence promoted the information session “NATO at 360º: Business and development opportunities”.
Intending to empower the defence economy ecosystem – research centres, SMEs, Industry, academia, defence-oriented entities and entities that are not dedicated to defence but can contribute – IdD Portugal Defence promoted an event that brought together the main actors of the ecosystem to offer an overview of the Alliance. With the propose to allow a better understanding of the role of each relevant organism for the defence economy, their mechanisms, priorities, and future perspectives with direct or indirect impact on the area.
The welcoming words were delivered by the President of IdD- Portugal Defence, denoting the work carried out and the importance of DTIB’s integration in all NATO opportunities and stages.
The first session “Defence Policy and the Alliance” composed by Ambassador Pedro Costa Pereira, Head of the Portuguese Delegation to NATO, the Director General of National Defence Policy, Paulo Lourenço, and the Navy Chief of Staff, Admiral Gouveia e Melo, provided a geopolitical analysis, the state of the art of the Alliance, national priorities and ongoing developments, denoting both concrete initiatives such as DIANA, EDTs and REPMUS exercise, as well as the importance of the DTIB to the Alliance efforts.
Next, NSPA Chief of Branch, Policy, Procedures and Business Info Carlos Ferrer Lopez, Acting ACO Head of Contracts, Acquisition Management Branch, Carlo Giacomello ACO and ACT Head of Contracts Kevin Mills explained “how to do business with the alliance”. The panel informed the audience about the commands and agency structures, the processes, procedures, good practices, sharing some advice on steps to follow, highlighting the importance of the National Authority responsible for declarations of eligibility (DGRDN) and DELNATO.
The third panel, comprised of STO’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Bryan Wells, and by the NIAG Chair, Rudy Priem, addressed the “opportunities in pre-competitive phases”, offering elements on the two forums that precede the acquisition phases, dedicated to innovation, research and development, and advice, explaining the different possibilities for participation, the areas of greatest interest, calling for greater participation by the industry.
Finally, the Deputy Director of the DGRDN informed about the transversal role of this Directorate in the dimensions addressed earlier from the capability policy to licensing. He informed also about the role of DGRDN in STO, NSPA and NCIA, complementing the previous presentations with the national perspective, concluding with some recommendations.
To celebrate the date and contributing to the effort of this event, IdD – Portugal Defence launched the “Guide to Participation in Tender Procedures within the scope of NATO – 2022”, developed with the support of DELNATO, DGRDN and the Portuguese Liaison Officer to NSPA. This is a document that is intended to serve as a practical guide and does not require any prior knowledge.
It is hoped that with the event and the Guide, the BTID, the STCN and entities that are not traditional contributors to defence, will feel more able to actively participate in the various opportunities of the Alliance.
More information: niag [@] iddportugal.pt
