On 27 October, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) launched its new Science and Technology Watchtower project on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly First Committee. Supported by the European Union, the three-year initiative goals to watch disarmament-related scientific and technological (S&T) developments throughout three domains — weapons of mass destruction, standard arms, and data and communication applied sciences — with devoted consultants in every area anticipated to evaluate developments and disseminate findings.
Opening remarks
Kicking off the dialogue, Gosia Loj (Deputy Head of the UNIDIR Science and Technology Programme) launched the Watchtower project and thanked the European Union for its help. Michal Karczmarz (Chair, European Union Council Working Group on Conventional Arms Export) highlighted the function of non-proliferation and arms management in European Union technique, describing the UNIDIR project as an effort to construct a metaphorical “tower” with an satisfactory view to watch and analyse related S&T developments.
Anmol Sher Singh Bedi (Senior Disarmament Advisor, Permanent Mission of India to the Conference on Disarmament) underlined India’s efforts within the First Committee to advance work on these points, notably via resolution 72/28 on the “Role of science and technology in the context of international security and disarmament”. Noting that the altering technological panorama offered each dangers and alternatives for world safety, he harassed each the significance of inclusive multi-stakeholder governance and the worth of present mechanisms.
Federico Mantellassi (Researcher, UNIDIR Science and Technology Programme) launched the three-year project in additional depth, together with its key features of horizon-scanning and evaluation by networks of consultants in every area. He harassed the necessity to determine cross-cutting developments and collaborate accordingly to successfully monitor S&T developments.
Main dialogue
The Co-Chairs of every Watchtower community took half in a dialogue moderated by Ms. Loj. Jonathan Forman (Science and Technology Advisor at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Co-Chair of the UNIDIR S&T Watchtower Chemical and Biological Weapons Expert Network) supplied an summary of present S&T monitoring efforts, together with by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Scientific Advisory Board. He additionally shared greatest practices that included establishing credibility via geographical illustration, continuity, trust-building and efficient communication. Manpreet Sethi (Head of the Centre for Air Power Studies’ Nuclear Issues Programme and Co-Chair of the UNIDIR S&T Watchtower Nuclear Weapons Expert Network) highlighted the significance of S&T monitoring and the dangers and alternatives of rising applied sciences. She referenced new purposes of expertise within the nuclear area — corresponding to making use of AI for safeguards monitoring and cellphones for radiation detection — and highlighted the necessity for political willingness to foster knowledge-sharing on S&T developments. Rueben Dass (Senior Analyst on the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, S. Rajatnaram School of International Studies, and Co-Chair of the UNIDIR S&T Watchtower Conventional Arms and Ammunition Expert Network) shared S&T insights affecting the traditional weapons area, together with developments pertaining to additive manufacturing and monetary applied sciences (blockchains and cryptocurrencies). He emphasised the significance of together with S&T monitoring in related disarmament devices.
Key themes and outcomes
During the panel dialogue, the Co-Chairs of the Watchtower networks highlighted the significance of monitoring S&T developments to tell the implementation of present disarmament devices. They famous the speedy tempo of technological developments, referring to particular examples throughout domains, and emphasised the significance of information to tell decision-making. Developments in synthetic intelligence, quantum computing, additive manufacturing and monetary applied sciences have been described as providing each dangers and alternatives for disarmament and non-proliferation efforts. Acknowledging present challenges, the Co-Chairs underlined the significance of geographical illustration and of efficient communication between the scientific and coverage communities.
Q&A
During the question-and-answer session, Giacomo Persi Paoli (Head of the UNIDIR Security and Technology Programme) requested panelists for additional insights concerning the bodily footprint of AI, small modular reactors, the influence of geopolitics on the scientific group and the best stage to determine S&T developments of curiosity for the disarmament group. Jonathan Forman famous that investments in science are formed by nationwide priorities and geopolitical developments. He additionally argued that worldwide cooperation in science has at all times confronted ups and downs. Manpreet Sethi acknowledged the potential of nuclear vitality to assist meet vitality calls for for S&T growth whereas underlining the necessity to set up regulatory and oversight regimes for small modular reactors. Rueben Dass harassed the significance of figuring out dangers as early as potential and speaking them to policy-makers.
Closing remarks
Gosia Loj thanked the contributors and project group for his or her contributions to the dialogue. She added that facilitating dialogue would stay an goal of the Watchtower project and inspired continued engagement with the group over the following three years.
Additional data
UNIDIR, Watchtower event page, 27 October 2025.