Science – Peace – Security ’25 (SPS ’25) Conference in Aachen

By Kim Westerich-Fellner. From 10-12 September, the Science – Peace – Security ’25 (SPS ’25) Conference was held in Aachen, Germany. The event was hosted by VeSPoTec and organized by Forschungszentrum Jülich.
The conference explored how rapid technological advancements are reshaping global peace and security. Against the background of shifting global orders, SPS ’25 provided a platform for exchange of expert perspectives on how verification can address crucial risks posed by conventional arms and weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear, biological, and chemical threats. Key discussions highlighted the challenges arising from fast-evolving military and dual-use technologies, such as artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics, and new capabilities emerging from a rapidly transforming biological landscape.
The conference was opened by Dr. Irmgard Niemeyer (Forschungszentrum Jülich) and Dr. Jürgen Altmann (FONAS – Research Association for Science, Disarmament and International Security), who provided a timely assessment of the risks and challenges for verification in the current international security landscape, highlighting the need for innovative, interdisciplinary solutions to ensure effective compliance mechanisms.
Over the course of three days, 60 international scholars and practitioners shared their work and perspectives and engaged in lively, cross-disciplinary discussions. In addition to the timely and relevant insights offered through presentations and poster sessions, a highlight of the conference was the interactive dialogue Research at Crossroads, where participants explored together how a research agenda can be shaped to address non-proliferation, arms control, and disarmament in a changing world.
SPS’25 offered a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and contribute to the search for effective responses to the multifaceted challenges facing peace and security.
