Launching Safer Tomorrow on the sidelines of the NATO Summit

Last Tuesday, hours before the Madrid NATO Summit, the Center for the Governance of Change (CGC) launched Safer Tomorrow: Security starts with YOU(TH), an initiative aimed at raising awareness on the importance of defense partnerships in protecting shared values among the student community.

The event was promoted by the NATO Public Diplomacy Division.

Irene Blázquez, Director of the CGC, welcomed guests and speakers and delivered remarks on the importance of the NATO Summit taking place that week in Madrid and highlighting the importance of technology and innovation for the changing global order.

General Torcal followed, offering opening address on how technology shapes modern warfare.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain and now Dean of PSIA Sciences Po, Arancha González Laya, delivered the keynote speech and explained the main purpose of this initiative: 

“Security and defense matter for all of us and we need the involvement of the younger generations.”

Margarita Konaev, Antonio Notario, Lydia Wachs, Bernardo Navazo López and Katarina Kertysova shared their thoughts on how tech is transforming the security landscape.

A particular focus on Ukraine, new NATO memberships and the increase of military tech in conflict was given in the panel led by Jeremy Cliffe Olga Tokariuk, Oscar Jonsson, Paula Alvarez-Couceiro and Paula Redondo Alvarez-Palencia.

"Due to the high risk to cyber attacks, Estonian citizens have become very cyber savvy. They even included in the school curriculum a mandatory course about it"
- Jeremy Cliffe, Writer at Large, The New Statesman

Manuel Muñiz, Provost of IE University, shared some closing remarks on the importance of raising awareness on a culture of defense and security among today's youth.

The event concluded with a cocktail (Spanish wine).

After the summer, the initiative will continue through with:

- A student challenge inviting both bachelor and master/PhD students to reflect on the Summit’s conclusions and publication of the New Strategic Concept

- A post-Summit event in collaboration with NATO to discuss the impact and conclusions of the Summit and the announcement of the winners of the student challenge

- An ongoing research program with top academics and the contributions of the two finalists from the student challenge

Thank you to everyone who joined us, both at the IE Tower and online. Stay tuned for the upcoming events that will follow as part of this initiative.