Read more: Scientific International CBRNe Conference (SICC) 2017The Italian “Health Safety Environmental Research Association Rome” (HESAR) conducted for the very first time a science focused CBRNe Conference – SICC 2017.  The conference took place in Rome from 22nd – 24th May 2017.  Just a preliminary remark: The “e” in “CBRNe” abbreviates “explosives” (Improvised Explosive Devices).  However, “CBRNe” is not a NATO recognized abbreviation.  HESAR cooperates closely with the well-known University of Rome “Tor Vergata”.  Main areas of cooperation are environmental protection as well as occupational health and safety.  The cooperation with „Tor Vergata“ originates in the Universities‘ master studies on CBRN Defence.

The JCBRN Defence COE hosted a Stocktaking MC 0603/1 Workshop from 5 December to 6 December 2017.

The workshop, which was organized and lead by the Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Capability Development Group (JCBRND-CDG), was attended by 19 participants from Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy and The United Kingdom. The workshop was also attended by representatives from different NATO bodies such as NATO HQ’s Arms Control, Disarmament, and WMD Non-proliferation Centre (ACDC), Allied Command Transformation (ACT), Allied Command Operation (ACO), Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFCBS) and, of course, the JCBRN Defence COE as hosting organisation.

The JCBRN Defence COE hosted a NATO Technical Exploitation Workshop held in Vyškov, Czech Republic, from 29 November – 1 December 2017. This workshop was an activity under the Emerging Security Challenges Division’s Defence Against Terrorism Programme of Work (Reinforced) and was co-chaired by Major Holm Iversen Steen, Danish Army Intelligence Centre, and Mr. Samuel “Sam” Henze, NATO Headquarters - International Staff/Emerging Security Challenges Division (Counter-Terrorism Section) [NATO HQ – IS/ESC(CT)]. One of the workshop’s objectives was to facilitate better coordination between C-IED, EOD and the CBRN community. One day was specifically dedicated to a potential role of CBRN Defence capabilities within Technical Exploitation.

The Comprehensive CBRN Incident Commanders course was organized by the Joint CBRN Defence COE at the NATO-ICI Regional Centre in the State of Kuwait from 03 to 07 December 2017. The course was supported by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme.

Sixteen course participants from AUS, BEL, BIH, CZE, GRC, and POL participated in the last course at the Joint CBRN Defence Centre of Excellence in 2017.

The aim of the course was to introduce and describe Consequence Management after a CBRN Incident to NATO and Partner Nation officers and civilian equivalents. The course covered the NATO Crisis Management concept, organization, systems and procedures including Cooperation and Partnership Initiatives in CBRN Crisis and Consequence Management.