Do you think that your work as a student could be beneficial to strategy, professional development, innovation and / or emerging technologies in a military setting?
Command & Control (C2) is how military organizations coordinate people, information, and technology to make better decisions and act effectively together. C2 is the brain and central nervous system. C2 challenges are similar to those faced in many fields: from managing complex projects, utilizing AI for improving decision making and understanding how humans interact and perform under stress. Whatever your background – computer science, psychology, engineering, social sciences, or beyond – your research or thesis might offer fresh insights that can help shape the future of NATO C2.
Join the NATO C2COE Student Challenge during the Annual C2 Conference 2025 – a competition for students who want to shape the future of Command & Control. Present your ideas on how NATO can lead in C2, Multi-Domain Operations, accelerate digital transformation, and maintain Decision Advantage in an increasingly complex world.
This is your chance to share the stage with senior military leaders, NATO experts, and renowned researchers.
THEMES
We look forward to receiving submissions that contribute to enhancing, understanding, and clarifying research and case studies which may contribute to a deeper understanding and application of C2, including the role of multi-domain operations (MDOs) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The NATO C2COE Annals of C2 aims to address three main areas in the field of C2:
- Processes and structures, focusing on the effectiveness and efficiency of the operational level headquarters.
- Information and knowledge management, focusing on how individuals, teams and entire organizations create, share and apply knowledge in order to better achieve their objectives.
- Humans factors, focusing on understanding how people perform under different circumstances; that is, on the interrelationship among humans, between humans and their supporting tools, and between humans and their professional environment (including insights of anatomy, physiology, physics, biomechanics, psychology and sociology).
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
- Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD students
- From any university, defence academy, or technical institute (worldwide)
- No NATO affiliation required
IMPORTANT DATES
Submission Deadline | October 1st, 2025 |
Notification to Finalists | October 17, 2025 |
NATO C2 Conference | November 17–20, 2025 |
HOW TO APPLY
Submit an abstract (max 300 words) explaining:
- Your idea or research work
- Why it matters for NATO C2 transformation
- How it connects to one of the core themes
- Your status as a student (cover letter by your professor or institute)
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
- The best abstracts receive an invitation to attend the NATO C2 Conference 2025, November 17–20, in Rotterdam
- Opportunity to present your idea to NATO leaders, military officers, researchers, and industry
- Winner receives the NATO C2 Young Innovator Award 2025
- Publication opportunity in the Annals of C2
- Mentorship from NATO C2COE experts
- Gain access to a network of military C2 experts around the globe
Location
The WTC Rotterdam will host our Annual C2 Conference 2025. As the vibrant center of the international business community in the Rotterdam region, it offers a dynamic environment with excellent facilities and a globally recognized WTC concept, making it an ideal venue for our event.
In a city that had to almost completely rebuild itself after being bombed during the Second World War, the old and new are seamlessly intertwined. You’ll notice this everywhere you go; in architecture, urban development, and industry. Rotterdam is a young and exciting metropolis where any forward-thinking professional will feel right at home. Rotterdam isn’t like any other city in the Netherlands. Architecturally, it stands on its own. You can find the canals, bridges, and old houses with beautiful facades like you might expect in our cities, but Rotterdam is way more than that! It has its unique charm.
More information about Rotterdam: https://www.welcome-to-nl.nl/about-nl/rotterdam
Submit
Questions?
Contact us at c2coe.review@mindef.nl
