Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare

The University of Alberta, Canada is Developing AI-powered chemical language models to predict novel toxic compounds. The resulting reference library will improve OPCW’s ability to identify and monitor both known and unknown chemical warfare agents.  * The teams will conduct their research throughout 2025, providing final reports by the end of the year. The final results will then be considered by the OPCW Technical Secretariat to best understand which ideas and approaches could be further explored moving forward.

Developing AI-based models for automatic identification of scheduled chemicals and extracting relevant, characteristic chemical forensic information. This research will bolster OPCW’s forensic capabilities and improve its ability to trace the origins of hazardous substances. The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), The Netherlands   The teams will conduct their research throughout 2025, providing final reports by the end of the year. The final results will then be considered by the OPCW Technical Secretariat to best understand which ideas and approaches could be further explored moving forward.

The Korea Military Academy, Republic of Korea is Building a big data repository of organophosphorus compound toxicities and vapour pressures. AI-driven models will enable more precise chemical analysis, better detection, and improved field mission planning, enhancing OPCW’s chemical analysis capabilities as well as preparedness and safety for field operations in chemical threat environments.    The teams will conduct their research throughout 2025, providing final reports by the end of the year. The final results will then be considered by the OPCW Technical Secretariat to best understand which ideas and approaches could be further explored moving forward.

 The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), United Kingdom is Using existing open-source data, developing AI tools capable of identifying unique chemical signatures using mass spectrometry data. This research will enhance the Organisation’s chemical forensics capabilities in comparing samples of chemical warfare agents.    The teams will conduct their research throughout 2025, providing final reports by the end of the year. The final results will then be considered by the OPCW Technical Secretariat to best understand which ideas and approaches could be further explored moving forward.  

The OPCW has partnered with four research institutions selected for the OPCW Artificial Intelligence Research Challenge , an initiative launched in July 2024, funded by the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). The challenge aims to explore AI applications to enhance OPCW’s ability to detect and respond to current and future chemical threat s. The four teams – Canada’s University of Alberta, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, Republic of Korea’s Military Academy, UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory – were announced, and each given an opportunity to provide an overview of their proposed research, at a side event during the 108th session of the OPCW Executive Council. “The AI Research Challenge has the potential to provide innovative tools that could enhance the OPCW’s capabilities to safeguard global security helping us stay ahead of these threats,” said OPCW Director-General, Ambassador Fernando Arias. ...

Disarmament Fellowship Established by the First Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament, the United Nations Disarmament Fellowship, Training and Advisory Services Programme (Programme of Fellowships on Disarmament) has trained over 1,140 officials from 172 Member States since 1979. The Programme is implemented by the Geneva Branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). The Programme aims to train national officials, particularly in developing countries, to enable them to participate more effectively in international forums addressing disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control issues. Participants in the Programme are selected among candidates nominated by the United Nations Member States, each of which may submit one nomination per year. The selection is based on the training needs of developing countries for their young diplomats, candidates’ professional experience, and anticipated future responsibilities, as well as overall geogra...

7 April 2025 -  Speech by the OPCW Deputy Director-General to the Opening Session of the European Youth Parliament Meeting in The Hague .