Priorities

The risk of nuclear weapons use—deliberate, accidental, or unauthorized—is dangerously high. Today, nine countries hold more than 12,000 nuclear weapons amid potential threats of terrorism, the spread of nuclear technologies and materials, and cyberattacks on critical facilities and systems. NTI reduces these risks through bold, innovative, and practical solutions.

As long as the world continues to rely on outdated nuclear deterrence theories, we live with the risk of catastrophic failure. A new framework for a secure nuclear future is needed—one where peaceful nuclear technologies still exist, but the world no longer relies on nuclear weapons for security. Through novel strategies, dialogues, and partnerships, NTI promotes new thinking about the legal, normative, institutional, and technological requirements needed to confidently verify, monitor, manage, and control the peaceful use of nuclear materials and technology in a world without nuclear weapons.

Biological threats—natural, intentional, or accidental—are increasing and could kill billions and cost trillions of dollars. As COVID-19 vividly demonstrated, the risk of a catastrophic biological event is magnified by an increasingly interconnected world and challenged by political instability, urbanization, climate change, and new technologies that make it easier, cheaper, and faster to create and engineer pathogens. Addressing biological threats is a shared responsibility between governments and the private sector. NTI | bio fosters new thinking, tests solutions, and advocates for change.

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, robotics and automation, big data, ubiquitous sensing, space commercialization, and other disruptive technologies are transforming the technological foundation of human civilization. These technologies can radically expand and converge with each other with both intended and unintended consequences for nuclear and biological security. NTI’s FutureSafe program works with governments, industry, academia, and NGOs to create a more comprehensive understanding of the risks and opportunities posed by AI and emerging technologies to nuclear and biological threats and to implement innovative solutions and policy responses.

Today’s students and young professionals will inherit enormous global nuclear and biosecurity challenges and need the support of collaborative global networks, as well as training and opportunities, to develop the contacts, analytic skills, and creativity to solve them. NTI builds networks for emerging leaders to share experiences, sponsors competitions to bring young leaders together, supports post-graduate work for scholars, and maintains a robust internship program to help develop the next generation of leaders, so they are equipped to tackle the escalating and evolving threats posed by weapons of mass destruction and disruption.

Public awareness and engagement around today’s nuclear, biological, and emerging technology threats is crucial for making progress on risk reduction and building a world safe from preventable global catastrophe. NTI designs and implements innovative and engaging campaigns, shapes narratives to influence perceptions about today’s threats, and works with NTI experts to translate solutions into impact. The work is designed to engage larger and more diverse audiences who will play a role in building the political will for change by organizing and enlisting influential leaders across governments, civil society, and popular culture.