Administrator's Note: Please see the "Conference Proceedings" section of this site for further information about this conference, and the documents associated with submitting a paper for consideration.

The importance of Modelling and Simulation (M&S) and its impact on training, experimentation and analysis in NATO and nations is well recognised and continues to grow. This conference asks the question just how well we are meeting those challenges, now and in the future. Advances in low cost, high power computers, graphics from the commercial and telecommunications markets have not yet been matched by the advances in the military environment to enable better interoperability and reuse between simulations and the integration of command & control systems. There have been many technical activities and some successes within NATO and nations to improve interoperability and ensure effective reuse and from an Alliance perspective the vision of Project Snow Leopard to create a persistent distributed network for training and experimentation is a significant step towards this goal.: The HLA STANAG 1516, the SEDRIS STANAG series, MSG-027 Pathfinder Integration Environment, MSG-048 Coalition-Battle Management Language (C-BML) MSG-053 Rapid Scenario Generation are all valuable contributors to this vision. With NATO engaged in long term operations ACT mission is focussed on both the short term and long term benefits to the warfighter. This increases the need for rapid insertion of technology into training systems and interoperability between new and legacy systems. This Conference will seek and focus on Papers that demonstrate and challenge how M&S has or has not met and the vision to meet those challenges by improving component command, joint training and doctrine development, experimentation, NEC, effect based operations and interoperability for NATO and the Nations. In addition, the Conference will also address the themes of research, development and the application/adaptation of models and simulation in the defence and commercial environments.

The conference will provide attendees a forum to understand where we are and the challenges ahead in order to advance the role of M&S not only in the Alliance, its Partner and coalition nations and into the commercial and multi-agency environment. The combination of M&S users and developers concentrated in this one forum will not only educate attendees, but also provide fresh ideas for the furtherance of NATO M&S.

Specifically the Conference will seek Papers to focus on how M&S has met those challenges to date or in some cases has not and how we should meet those challenges ahead in support of:

- The NATO Response Force

- Military Exercising, Training and Decision Support,

- Network Centric Warfare,

- Defence against Terrorism.

It is anticipated the Conference will also have Invited Papers on the following topics:

- The challenges ahead

- M&S in support of Homeland Defence and Defence Against Terrorism

- M&S in protection of Critical Infrastructure