07 April 2025
- RSIS
- News Releases
- APPSNO 2025 – Emerging Technology Risks and National Security
APPSNO 2025 – Emerging Technology Risks and National Security
1. National security practitioners, policymakers, and experts convene this week at the Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO) 2025.
2. A flagship programme of the Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS) of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), APPSNO is organised every year with the support of the National Security Coordination Secretariat (NSCS) in the Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore, to explore and foster networks and dialogue on the reality of interdependencies within and between countries in an increasingly amorphous global security landscape.
3. New and rapidly evolving emerging technologies hold the potential to significantly reshape societies, economies, and governance structures. While such emerging technologies promise transformative benefits which can improve and enhance various aspects of society, these come with complex risks. Emerging technologies can be exploited to manipulate information, intensify societal divisions, and undermine national stability through tactics like cyber warfare, disinformation campaigns, and AI-driven surveillance. As nations become increasingly interconnected, the ability of hostile actors to leverage technology for coercion and disruption continues to grow, increasingly posing threats to democratic institutions and processes, economic security and resilience, and social cohesion. There is a need for governments to develop a greater and deeper understanding of emerging technological risks and proactive mitigation strategies – to harness the potential of emerging technologies and minimise potential harm.
4. APPSNO 2025 runs from 6 to 11 April 2025 with the theme of “Emerging Technology Risks and National Security”.
5. This year, more than 69 national security practitioners, experts, and scholars from 21 countries, including Singapore, the Asia Pacific, United States and Europe, gather to discuss challenges such as i) the impact and mitigation of artificial intelligence and national security; ii) challenges of quantum technologies; iii) emerging technologies and economic security, iv) the interplay between biotechnology, biohazards and national security; and v) supply chain resiliency and national security.
6. In her Opening Address, Guest-of-Honour Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Social and Family Development, highlighted the national security risks posed by disinformation, cyberthreats and biological weapons, and called on all stakeholders to work together to harness the power of technology responsibly.
7. In his welcome remarks, Professor Kumar Ramakrishna, Dean of RSIS, observed the new complexity facing national security practitioners and policymakers, who have to both navigate the speed of technological innovation, while simultaneously devising strategies and responses to threats. Professor Ramakrishna said, “the key challenge faced by all states, including Singapore, is developing a deeper understanding of such risks and threats, and how to mitigate them.”
8. Professor Ramakrishna also encouraged participants to remain connected with the APPSNO network so as to keep in touch with the national security community.
