The Transatlantic Research Award is a new Atlantic Treaty Association project aimed at extending the transatlantic security debate beyond the states of Europe and North America. The project aims to involve future leaders and communicators and to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas, and to promote shared strategies for tackling future security challenges.

Participants

The Transatlantic Research Award is open to students and young professionals and researchers with an interest in international relations and current affairs. Candidates from Brazil, Russia, China, Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Turkey, Australia, and Japan are invited to take compete in the award scheme.

Competition

The first part of the Transatlantic Research Award is an international essay and documentary competition designed to select the ten best candidates from across the countries listed. Candidates can compete in two categories:

-          Best Position Paper

-          Best Web Documentary

Students wishing to compete should submit an original research paper, and/or an innovative multimedia documentary. All work must be original and not previously published or distributed. Candidates should submit their entries no later than 9^th January 2012.

An ad hoc panel will select the 10 best entries, whose creators will then be invited to come to Brussels for a one week education and training trip in March 2012. In addition to this, a commendation for the best submission in each category will be awarded during a closing ceremony to take place at the Club Prince Albert in Brussels on March 9^th 2012.

Topics

Submissions could focus upon one of the following issues:

1)      Security of the global commons

2)      Peace keeping and crisis management

3)      Cyber regulation

4)      Terrorism and organized crime

5)      Energy security

6)      Space policy

7)      Food security

The ATA recognises that candidates will come from different countries and will have different backgrounds. In order take advantage of this submissions should include thoughts on possible ways of enhancing cooperation between the NATO and their country within the topic covered. The abovementioned topics serve as guidelines for students and they are not necessarily intended as exhaustive. 

Students can focus on an unlisted topic, if they wish. Ground breaking thinking and ideas are encouraged, as well as inventive graphic design and animations. Creativity and innovative spirit will be crucial in winning the competition.

Prizes

- The winner for the best paper will get his/her paper published in the NATO review.

- The winner for the best multimedia documentary will get his/her work published on the NATO website and an opportunity for a training session at NATO TV Channel.

- In addition exceptional and willing candidates may be offered a six month paid internship at the Atlantic Treaty Association in Brussels.

Participation in the Competition

The competitors should work independently from any supervisor or mediators. The ATA wishes to encourage innovative thinking and new approaches to the issues and this should be reflected in the papers and documentaries.

The Atlantic Treaty Association will assist the competitors in any phase of the competition, upon request.

Candidates wishing to participate should download the information package from the ATA website. This comes in 4 parts:

- Part 1: Information Materials

- Part 2: Deadline and Submission Details

- Part 3: Panel Bio's

- Part 4: Registration Form (to be completed and returned alongside submissions)

Evaluation

A Judging Panel formed by 5 renowned experts and politicians in transatlantic affairs has been established and will review the students work. The Panel is composed as follows:

-          Amb. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy,

-          Mr. Jean Guisnel, writer and journalist at ‘Le Point’, specialist of security and defense matters,

-          Dr. Karl A. Lamers, President of the Atlantic Treaty Association,

-          Member of European Parliament, to be determined,

-          Mr. Christian Olsson, lecturer at the ‘Université Libre de Bruxelles’, specialist in peace and security studies.

The Panel will evaluate the works based on:

-          Innovative thinking and designing,

-           Length (minimum 2500 words for the Best paper Award, minimum 150 seconds for the best multimedia documentary),

-          Attention to detail.

On January 31^st the first  selection results will be announced and the best 10 participants will be invited for a Study Tour and Training Session to Brussels. During the Training Session in Brussels, the Jury will commit to a selection round, after which a final decision on the  two winners will be made. 

Other information

Representatives of academic, national and international institutions are also welcome to compete in the Transatlantic Research Award provided they and their submissions conform to the aforementioned criteria.

Institutions wishing to enter candidates, or promote the award are welcome to contact the ATA Secretariat via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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