CNTR Tech Trend Lab 2026

From May 7–8, the annual CNTR Tech Trend Lab took place at PRIF in Frankfurt. The workshop comprised four panels focusing on current opportunities and challenges in the field of verification.

The first panel, Emerging Disruptive Technologies for Verification – Chances and Pitfalls, featured OTL Jochen Kull from the Bundeswehr Verification Center, Dr. Thomas Reinhold from the CNTR research group “Emerging Disruptive Technologies”, and Dr. Sarah McKee from the CNTR research group “Science for Nuclear Diplomacy”. The panel was chaired by Dr. Niklas Schörnig, head of the research group “Emerging Disruptive Technologies”. From satellites to AI models, the panelists discussed how new technologies can be utilized for verification purposes and the political as well as technical conditions constraining their use.

The second panel, The Future of Verification Regimes, examined the political and social conditions that could shape verification regimes in the upcoming years. In light of renewed geopolitical tensions, the panel discussed future objectives for verification, the role of trust, and if and how non-state actor could play a stronger role. The panel featured Prof. Dr. Christopher Daase, co-speaker of CNTR, Prof. Owen Greene from the University of Bradford, Dr. Robin Möser from the CNTR research group “Science for Nuclear Diplomacy” as well as Dr. Sara Al-Sayed from the Union of Concerned Scientists. It was chaired by Dr. Leonardo Bandarra from the University Duisburg-Essen.

The third panel, Physics for Verification, offered insights into how recent advancements in physics research could be harnessed for verification. Dr. Yan-Jie Schnellbach and Dr. Luis Pazos Clemens, both from the CNTR research group “Science for Nuclear Diplomacy”, presented their work on novel methods of radiation detection and monitoring. Prof. Dr. Markus Gräfe from the Technical University of Darmstadt focused on new quantum applications. The panel also featured Prof. Dr. Moritz Kütt from the University of Hamburg as discussant and Prof. Dr. Malte Göttsche, co-speaker of CNTR and head of the research group “Science for Nuclear Diplomacy”, as chair.

The fourth and final panel, Verification in the Chemical and Biological Field, featured perspectives from both research and practice on verification issues in the fields of chemistry and biology: from political frameworks to questions of detection and attribution of genetically modified sequences. AI applications in both biology and chemistry pose new risks and require new approaches to safeguards and screening. The speakers were Katharina Lack from the Federal Foreign Office, Prof. Dr. Roman Wölfel from the Bundeswehr Institute for
Microbiology, Dr. Kadri Reis and Dr. Philip Gasse, both from CNTR's research group “Chemical and Biological Weapons Control”, as well as Dr. Miranda Smith from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The panel was chaired by Dr. Una Jakob, head of the CNTR research group “Chemical and Biological Weapons Control”.

The CNTR Tech Trend Labs are held annually at the locations of the Research and Transfer Cluster since 2023 and, in addition to exchange and networking, also serve in preparation of the CNTR Monitor.

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