Archive

Perry-Shultz Center for Technology & Strategic Stability

Shaping technology’s trajectory into a force for stability and forging common cause among states and non-state actors against its most consequential risks

Securing the Signal: Mitigation Strategies to Strengthen Crisis Communication Channels

As global norms are challenged and emerging technologies accelerate, crisis communication systems between nuclear-armed states face urgent new threats. This report identifies four critical scenarios and outlines a matched set of mitigation strategies designed to reinforce the reliability of crisis communications in high-stakes environments.

CATALINK, cold war, crisis communications, electromagnetic pulse, EMP, escalation, miscalculation, nuclear

May 28, 2025

Strengthening Nuclear Crisis Communications: Steps to Implement Mesh Networks to Enhance Resilience & Security

To advance work on secure crisis communications, IST convened a diverse group of experts for a technical workshop to explore potential avenues for improving the resilience of nuclear crisis communications networks, including IST’s CATALINK Initiative. In this report, IST’s Christian Steins shares critical takeaways from their discussion.

crisis communications, mesh network, nuclear weapon state, resilience, ROCCS

May 22, 2025

Live at the United Nations: IST Joins Forces with Germany and Switzerland to Push for Progress on Nuclear Risk Reduction

At NPTPrepCom last week, IST and the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation hosted a dialogue on preventing and managing nuclear crises sponsored by key CATALINK supporters, the German Federal Foreign Office and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

CATALINK, crisis communications, disarmament, NC3, Non-Proliferation, nuclear, nuclear command and control, United Nations

May 8, 2025

April 30, 2025 12:15 pm

Preventing and Managing Nuclear Crises in the 21st Century

In a side event at the 2025 Non-Proliferation Treaty PrepCom at the United Nations, IST and the VCDNP co-hosted a panel discussion to investigate how states can more readily reduce the risks of and ultimately prevent nuclear crises and conflicts in the 21st century.

Germany, Non-Proliferation, nuclear, nuclear crisis communications, Switzerland, United Nations

April 30, 2025

Bridging the Policy, Military, and Technology Fields: IST Hosts Critical Workshop on AI in Nuclear Command, Control, and Communication Systems

On April 10, 2025, the Institute for Security and Technology’s (IST) Innovation and Catastrophic Risk team hosted a scenario-driven workshop titled "The Risks and Opportunities of AI in NC3: Finding Common Ground," with cross-sector experts in Washington, DC.

adaptive targeting, AI, crisis communication, decision support, deterrence, NC3, nuclear, nuclear command, nuclear control, strategic stability, strategic warning

April 29, 2025

April 29, 2025 5:00 pm

Command, Complexity, and the Future: A Conversation on AI and the Nuclear Enterprise

In preparation for the April 29, 2025 workshop "The Risks and Opportunities of AI in NC3: Finding Common Ground," Philip Reiner sat down with General C. Robert Kehler, USAF (Ret.), former Commander, U.S. Strategic Command for a conversation on AI and the nuclear enterprise.

AI, artificial intelligence, NC3, nuclear, nuclear enterprise, Strategic Command

April 29, 2025

Setting the Foundation of a New National Strategy on AI: IST Submits Comments on an AI Action Plan

Institute for Security and Technology (IST) last week submitted comments to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in response to its request for information on the development of an AI Action Plan. Informed by eight years of working groups, private roundtables, and other engagements with policy policymakers, technologists, and researchers on AI risk reduction, our response puts forth 6 strategic objectives that would serve as the foundation of a new national strategy on AI.

AGI, AI, artificial intelligence, critical infrastructure, genAI, national security, NIST, public safety

March 18, 2025

Q&A: Reflecting on IST’s Mission in Action

In the February 2025 newsletter, on the heels of recent gatherings of the world's most prominent technology and policy leaders, members of IST leadership reflected on what they heard, what seems to be missing from global dialogue, and what IST can do about it.

AI, critical infrastructure, cyber, cybersecurity, Munich Cyber Security Conference, Paris Peace Forum, Public-private partnerships, Ransomware, WEF

February 28, 2025

Announcing Continued Support from the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the German Federal Foreign Office for the CATALINK Initiative

The Institute for Security and Technology (IST) is pleased to announce the generous political and financial support from the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the German Federal Foreign Office Germany to continue the CATALINK Initiative through 2027.

CATALINK, crisis communications, disarmament, mesh networks, nuclear weapons, risk reduction

January 21, 2025

A Transatlantic Perspective on Quantum Tech

IST CSO Megan Stifel welcomes Markus Pflitsch. Formerly in the financial services sector, Markus transitioned back into the quantum space in 2019. He details his path to becoming CEO and founder of a leading quantum company, his unique take on the quantum ecosystem, and the differences in the funding environments in Europe and the United States.

artificial intelligence, China, Europe, quantum, venture capital

December 18, 2024

The Future is Quantum

IST CSO Megan Stifel interviews Stefan Leichenauer, a member of the inaugural team at SandboxAQ with experience in both AI and quantum science. Stefan explains his journey from academia to private industry, SandboxAQ’s origins within Alphabet, and where quantum science is going next.

artificial intelligence, China, quantum

December 12, 2024

The Cleantech Boom

IST Chief Trust Officer Steve Kelly speaks with Dr. Alex Gagnon, co-founder and CEO of Banyu Carbon and an associate professor at the University of Washington School of Oceanology. They discuss the transformative potential of direct ocean capture in carbon dioxide removal and explore the ecosystem of partnerships needed to scale cleantech solutions.

carbon removal, China, cleantech, climate change, venture capital

December 5, 2024

Delivering results requires a critical action think tank

Our role as a 501(c)(3) critical action think tank has never been more crucial. As technology empowers us, it also brings incredible challenges. We help accelerate its benefits while keeping individuals, businesses, governments, and society safe from harm. On Giving Tuesday, we extend our sincere thanks to all of our supporters. Our work would not be possible without you. To celebrate, IST CEO Philip Reiner shares his reflections on the last year, our impact, and why what we do is so important.

artificial intelligence, critical action, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, public-private, Ransomware

December 3, 2024

Not Just Science for the Sake of Science

In this episode of TechnologIST Talks, host Steve Kelly welcomes Dr. Alain Harrus, an expert in helping scientists who are driving innovation in technologies like materials science, engineering, semiconductors, and energy to break through and become global leaders.

commercialization, Material Science, microelectronics, venture capital

December 3, 2024

The Deep Tech Renaissance

The deep tech ecosystem encompasses everything from hardware to biotech. Scaling up relative to tech is challenging–and expensive. In this episode, IST CEO Philip Reiner sits down with Dr. Manish Kothari to discuss the current “renaissance” in deep tech, the unique funding environment at play, and how to further galvanize the industry.

CRISPR, deep tech, Silicon Valley, venture capital

November 14, 2024

Why Venture Capital is Indispensable for U.S. Industrial Strategy

In the first episode of the TechnologIST Talks series “The Strategic Edge in Techno-Industrial Competition,” Michael Brown and Pavneet Singh join IST Chief Executive Officer Philip Reiner for a conversation on their plan for harnessing the power of venture capital.

deep tech, DIU, national security, venture capital

November 12, 2024