In June 2024, the Canadian Joint Warfare Centre (CJWC) and the NATO Modelling and Simulation Centre of Excellence (M&S COE) officially entered into a Cooperation Agreement, marking a significant milestone in their ongoing partnership.
Situated at the Shirley’s Bay Campus in Ottawa, Ontario, the CJWC serves as the hub for the Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) Modelling and Simulation Coordination Office (MSCO). This office plays a crucial role in overseeing and guiding the DND/CAF’s efforts in modeling and simulation (M&S), encompassing policy development, technical support, and educational and training services. The MSCO also represents Canada in NATO-led activities. Integral to the CJWC is the Joint Warfare Centre Science (JWCS) team, a group of Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) scientists. These experts are embedded within the CJWC to provide the operational research and technical expertise necessary for the development, testing, evaluation, and analysis of M&S tools and models for multi-domain operations. The longstanding collaboration between the CJWC and NATO’s M&S COE laid the groundwork for this new agreement, with discussions initiated in 2023 by the MSCO and JWCS, ultimately leading to the formalized partnership in 2024.
This Cooperation Agreement paves the way for collaborative efforts in several key areas. These include the exchange of research related to M&S within the multi-domain spectrum, the enhancement of education and training programs, and the sharing of concepts and knowledge. Additionally, the partnership will focus on exploring the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) into M&S activities, as well as joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (JISR) operations.
Looking ahead, the two organizations will further expand their collaboration through the development of a multi-year cooperation plan. The next steps in this partnership will be discussed during the 2024 Computer Assisted Exercise (CAX2X) Forum, where representatives from both the CJWC and NATO M&S COE will convene in Rome this September. This forum will serve as the starting point for the detailed planning and execution of their shared initiatives.