UNIDIR’s Innovations Dialogue 2026 (#ID26) provides a timely platform to explore the international peace and security implications of developments related to the electromagnetic spectrum and its disruption, including the impact on military capabilities, technological innovation and the future of conflict.
The electromagnetic spectrum is becoming an increasingly important domain of strategic competition. It is essential to modern military operations and is increasingly acting as a driver of military innovation, through efforts to maintain dominance over it, and overcoming disruptions caused to it. At the same time, growing reliance on the electromagnetic spectrum creates vulnerabilities, with disruptions affecting not only military operations but also civilian services and critical infrastructure.
Launched in 2019, UNIDIR’s Innovations Dialogue serves as a multi-stakeholder forum for examining developments in science and technology with significant implications for international peace and security.
This year’s edition will explore how the electromagnetic spectrum is shaping military innovation and strategic competition, as well as the vulnerabilities created by growing reliance on it. The conference will examine the implications of new and emerging capabilities, alongside the cascading effects that disruptions can have on civilians and critical infrastructure.
Despite its growing importance, the electromagnetic spectrum remains underexplored in arms control and disarmament discussions. The conference will provide a space to explore the evolving role of the disarmament community in managing the multitude of consequences related to the growing centrality of the electromagnetic spectrum in the military domain, and the ways in which the disarmament and arms control architecture can adapt to the realities of conflict in the 21st century.
Agenda
08:45 – 09:30 | Morning coffee
09:30 – 09:45 | Opening remarks
- Dr Robin Geiss, Director, UNIDIR
09:45 – 10:30 | Panel 1: Understanding the electromagnetic spectrum as a strategic domain
- James Black, Deputy Director, RAND Europe
- Véronique Glaude, Senior Space Radio Regulations Engineer, ITU
Moderated by Jessie Lim, Associate Expert, Space Security and Security and Technology Programmes, UNIDIR
10:30 – 12:00 | Panel 2: Electromagnetic spectrum disruptions and battlefield connectivity
- Dr Reeshen Reddy, Research Group Leader in Electronic Warfare, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
- Dr Thomas Withington, Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute
- Clemence Poirier, Senior Researcher, Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich
- Dr Marina Miron, Post-doctoral Researcher, Defence Studies Department, King’s College London
Moderated by Wenting He, Researcher, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR
12:00 – 13:15 | Lunch break
13:15 – 14:30 | Panel 3: The cascading effects of electromagnetic spectrum disruptions
- Dr Zak Kassas, Professor and Endowed Chair, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ohio State University
- Dr Eve Massingham, Legal Adviser, International Humanitarian Law, Australian Red Cross
- Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Protection and Operations, MONUSCO
Moderated by Dr Andraz Kastelic, Programme Manager, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR
14:30 – 15:00 | Coffee break
15:00 – 16:15 | Panel 4: Arms control and disarmament in the age of electromagnetic spectrum disruptions
- Husham Ahmed, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
- Kiseok Michael Kang, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
- Dr Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Resident Senior Fellow, Australian Strategic Policy Institute
- Taniel Youssef, Director, Civic Space; Research Affiliate, Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge
Moderated by Federico Mantellassi, Researcher, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR
16:15 – 17:45 | Panel 5: Cross-cutting sectoral approaches to addressing electromagnetic spectrum disruptions and adaptations
- Alexandre Vallet, Chief, Space Services Department, Radiocommunication Bureau, ITU
- Loftur Jonasson, Chief, Communications, Navigation, Surveillance and Spectrum, ICAO
- Jeremy Greenwood, Head, Maritime Security Section, IMO
- Dr Beyza Unal, Head, Science and Technology Unit, UNODA
Moderated by Sarah Grand-Clément, Senior Researcher, Conventional Weapons and Security and Technology Programmes, UNIDIR
17:45 – 18:30 | Reception
When and where
Wednesday, 11 November 2026 | 09:30 – 17:45 CET | In person (Auditorium Ivan Pictet, A1 B, Geneva Graduate Institute, Geneva) and online.
Check your local time here.
Participants
The event is open to State representatives, civil society, academics and industry experts working on or interested in science and technology issues pertaining to international peace and security, and disarmament and arms control. The event is also open to the media.
RSVP
For in-person and online participation, please register here by Sunday, 8 November.
Further information
For any questions, please contact sectec-unidir@un.org.
Partner
