If transformation is a journey, then innovation is the fuel and NATO's Science and Technology Organization (STO) is the catalyst. Among its many activities, the STO's Systems Analysis and Studies (SAS) Panel undertakes activities to promote new and improved analysis methods and techniques to address emerging issues thrown up by the evolving strategic environment.

From 19-21 October, the JALLC's Principal Operational Research Analyst attended the annual meeting of the SAS Panel at IABG in Ottobrunn, Germany where he provided an informative brief on NATO's organizational structure and decision making process to senior national delegates representing their respective national science and technology organizations. The SAS Panel met to ensure alignment of their activities with NATO's Science and Technology priorities and held fruitful discussions regarding improving visibility of SAS products in the stakeholder community.

Following the panel meeting, Allied Command Transformation hosted their annual two-day Operations Research and Analysis (ORA) conference at the same venue. The JALLC's Senior Operational Research Analyst, Jackie Eaton, chaired the stream on the future of data for ORA which highlighted the opportunities and challenges of big data and the power and potential of data farming in a future where computation is both faster and cheaper. Ms Eaton also took the opportunity to promote the SAS-111 activity on future data collection and management for analysis support to operations, which is nearing the end of its first year and is jointly chaired by Germany and the JALLC, with members from the UK, US, France, and Germany. The report covering the first year will be available in draft by the end of February 2016.