RTO4DEF
Press Release: June 10, 2026
New Nordic-Baltic alliance to link defence needs faster with civilian research, testing, and technological development across borders.
– Five countries' research and technology organisations, 10,000 engineers, hundreds of test facilities – one network. The objective is simple: to make the activation of Nordic and Baltic civilian technological capacity a real defence resource for the Nordic region and NATO.
This was stated by Juan Farré, CEO of the Danish Technological Institute, on Tuesday in Brussels during the launch of RTO4DEF (RTOs for Nordic-Baltic Total Defence).
Faster access to critical technology across borders
The background is that the geopolitical reality demands faster action, closer alliance partnerships, and increased security of supply. Until now, the armed forces of the Nordic and Baltic countries have lacked a systematic mechanism to directly link shared defence needs with civilian innovation and testing capacity. RTO4DEF closes this gap.
The alliance brings together leading research and technology organisations (RTOs) from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia to create a single point of entry for authorities, the defence sector, and industry. Together, the partners represent more than 10,000 specialists and hundreds of test facilities.
“With RTO4DEF, both the defence sector and industry gain access to a far larger portfolio of technological expertise than is available within any single country. This opens up entirely new opportunities to move critical technology faster from laboratories and workshops to operational units,” says Juan Farré, CEO of the Danish Technological Institute.
A shared resource ready from day one
The alliance consists of the Danish Technological Institute (Denmark), Metrosert (Estonia), RISE (Sweden), SINTEF (Norway), and VTT (Finland).
For the Danish Technological Institute, the collaboration is about activating existing strengths in joint service:
“RTO4DEF is the first formal alliance network of Nordic-Baltic research and technology organisations dedicated to defence-relevant innovation. Together with our partners, the Danish Technological Institute is creating a real activation capability—not as something brand new, but by leveraging 100 years of established industrial infrastructure and our 94 advanced laboratories in joint service,” says Juan Farré.
The alliance will focus specifically on independent technology validation and the sharing of test facilities to support Nordic defence cooperation in NORDEFCO and strengthen the alliance within NATO and the EU.
About RTO4DEF
RTO4DEF (RTOs for Nordic-Baltic Total Defence) is a strategic Nordic-Baltic collaboration between the Danish Technological Institute (Denmark), Metrosert (Estonia), RISE (Sweden), SINTEF (Norway), and VTT (Finland). The alliance mobilises dual-use research, technology, and test facilities to strengthen societal security, Total Defence preparedness, and industrial resilience.
Contacts at the Danish Technological Institute:
Juliette Forneris
Head of International Relations and Communication
+45 72 20 13 06
jfor@teknologisk.dk
Sune Dowler Nygaard
Director, Defence and Security
+45 72202420
snd@teknologisk.dk
Photo caption: The new Nordic-Baltic cooperation agreement, RTO4DEF, opens up entirely new opportunities to move critical technology faster from laboratories and workshops to operational units. The agreement was signed on Tuesday in Brussels by the heads of RISE (Sweden), VTT (Finland), the Danish Technological Institute (Denmark), SINTEF (Norway), and Metrosert (Estonia). From left to right: Malin Frenning, RISE; Kalle Härkki, VTT; Juan Farré, Danish Technological Institute; Alexandra Bech Gjørv, SINTEF; and Kaupo Reede, Metrosert.