UNIDIR Futures Lab

Innovating for a more secure future.

The 21st century is marked by geopolitical tension, cascading crises and rapid technological innovation, all of which contribute to a pervasive sense of unpredictability and insecurity.

The UNIDIR Futures Lab conducts forward-looking, long-term research on these global security dynamics. It provides a unique space to experiment with innovative ideas, develop visions for future peace, and construct the security architectures and governance models required to address the complex global security environment of the 21st century.

“The dramatic confluence of crises we face today makes it more important than ever that we develop innovative ways of improving global security and advancing towards peace.” (Dr. Robin Geiss, Director)

Futures Lab Projects

Battlefield 2045

This futures and foresight study explores how the battlefield of 2045 could look once today’s emerging technologies are consolidated. (Image of an unmanned aerial system, or drone, generated using DALL-E artificial intelligence)

The PeaceTech Alliance

The PeaceTech Alliance leverages technology to drive peace while developing strategies to prevent technology from being used to enable violence, alongside our partners EPFL, the Geneva Graduate Institute and the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform.

Addressing Glocal Development and Security Linkages

This exploratory research cell examines how conventional arms control measures can address development and security challenges raised in the Secretary-General’s vision for the future of global cooperation, Our Common Agenda.