Technology & Innovation

The rapid pace of technological change can both provide governments and individuals with new tools to achieve policy goals, while also presenting societies with new economic, political, and social challenges. The harnessing of new technologies can unlock new economic growth, enhance inclusivity and equity, and increase citizens’ quality of life, but their potentially damaging side effects must also be managed. In an era of growing geopolitical and economic competition, governments must also focus on how to ensure their societies retain a technological edge, and produce new innovative products and solutions to drive growth.

The Atlantic Council Technology Programs comprises five existing efforts—the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), the GeoTech Center, the Cyber Statecraft Initiative, the Democracy + Tech Initiative, and the Capacity Building Initiative. These operations work together to address the geopolitical implications of technology and provide policymakers and global stakeholders necessary research, insights, and convenings to address challenges around global technology and ensure its responsible advancement.

Content

UkraineAlert

Jan 29, 2026

Ukraine’s defense tech sector can play a key role in economic security

By Eric K. Hontz

Ukraine’s defense tech and dual-use sector is a rare wartime success story, with over six hundred innovative and combat‑tested firms becoming increasingly attractive to international investors, writes Eric K. Hontz.

Conflict Defense Industry

Dispatches

Jan 27, 2026

TikTok’s new ownership structure doesn’t solve security concerns for Americans

By Kenton Thibaut

The deal does little to address the systemic challenges of information manipulation, foreign influence, and data exploitation on the platform.

China Defense Technologies

UkraineAlert

Jan 27, 2026

Unable to win on the battlefield, Putin escalates war on Ukrainian civilians

By Peter Dickinson

A war crime of staggering proportions is currently unfolding in full public view across Ukraine as Russia methodically bombs the country’s utilities in a calculated bid to freeze millions of civilians in their own homes and spark a humanitarian catastrophe, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Drones

Dispatches

Jan 26, 2026

Inside the biggest Davos debates (other than Greenland)

By Josh Lipsky, Alisha Chhangani

As the annual World Economic Forum in Switzerland ends, the issues discussed—from tariffs to AI—will continue to play out in all corners of the world.

Artificial Intelligence Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Jan 20, 2026

Surrender or freeze: Putin’s winter blitz targets Ukrainian civilians

By Yuliya Kazdobina

Millions of Ukrainians have spent much of January without electricity and heating amid extreme winter weather conditions as Russia ruthlessly bombs Ukraine's civilian infrastructure in a bid to freeze the country into submission, writes Yuliya Kazdobina.

Conflict Crisis Management

UkraineAlert

Jan 20, 2026

Ukraine’s best security guarantee is the ability to strike back inside Russia

By Serhii Kuzan

With Kyiv's Western allies unlikely to risk war with Russia, Ukraine's most realistic security guarantee remains a strong military coupled with the ability to strike targets deep inside Russia, writes Serhii Kuzan.

Conflict Defense Policy

Dispatches

Jan 15, 2026

Eight ways AI will shape geopolitics in 2026

By Atlantic Council experts

Experts from the Atlantic Council Technology Programs share their perspectives on what to expect from AI around the globe in the year ahead.

Artificial Intelligence China

UkraineAlert

Jan 15, 2026

Ukraine’s enhanced fortifications are increasing the cost of Putin’s invasion

By David Kirichenko

As Ukraine focuses on preventing further Russian advances, Kyiv is investing in a major upgrade of the country’s defenses. This has resulted in what The Economist recently described as a “massive fortification system” covering much of the Ukrainian battlefield, writes David Kirichenko.

Conflict Defense Technologies

UkraineAlert

Jan 13, 2026

Putin is weaponizing winter as Russia tries to freeze Ukraine into submission

By Peter Dickinson

Russia is “going all in” to destroy Ukraine’s power system, Ukrainian Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk said on January 13 following the latest in a series of major bombardments targeting civilian energy infrastructure in cities across the country.

Conflict Crisis Management

UkraineAlert

Jan 8, 2026

Russia’s war on Ukrainian farmers threatens global food security

By Oleksandr Tolokonnikov

By attacking Ukrainian farmers, Russia seeks to undermine Ukraine’s food security, just as it targets the country’s energy infrastructure to deprive the civilian population of access to electricity and heating, writes Oleksandr Tolokonnikov.

Conflict Drones

Experts

Events