The Triple Transition: Navigating the New Geopolitics of Technology, Defence, and Energy

For over a decade, the "twin transition" of green and digital transformation has guided leaders in government and industry. In an era of profound geopolitical instability, this framework is no longer sufficient. The weaponiation of critical infrastructure, the vulnerability of digital systems, and the fragmentation of global trade are now present realities that demand a more integrated paradigm for building national and regional resilience.   

This is the imperative for The Triple Transition.

This new framework, posits that true resilience—the capacity to adapt, transform, and thrive amid cascading crises—can only be achieved by addressing three interconnected domains in concert: Advanced Digital Technologies, Defence and Security Innovation, and Low-Carbon Energy Systems.   

"The Triple Transition: Navigating the New Geopolitics of Technology, Defence, and Energy." , features two expert perspectives that define this new strategic landscape:

• Our Strategic Defence Needs a Triple Transition, by StateUp CEO Tanya Filer, arguing that making Europe safer requires a proactive, collective mindset that breaks down entrenched policy and industry silos across energy, technology, and defence.   

• Echoes of Power: Infrastructural Rivalry from Telegraph to AI: A historical analysis by former Ofcom executive and Board Member Steve Unger, demonstrating that the interplay between critical infrastructure, technological disruption, and geopolitical power is not a new phenomenon, offering powerful lessons for today's leaders.   

Full References

The insights in this booklet are grounded in extensive research, the full list of references for these essays is provided below.

Aloisi, A. (2025). Integrating the EU Twin (Green and Digital) Transition Synergies, Tensions and Pathways for the Future of Work. European Commission, Seville, JRC140964.

Braw, E. (2022). “Comprehensive security: A model for a turbulent world”. LSE Public Policy Review, 2(4), 1-13.

Butson, N. (2024, May 22). AI innovation is powering the Net Zero transition, as patent activity soars in the Energy sector according to Marks & Clerk's 2024 AI Report. Marks & Clerk.

Chadwick. C., Filer, T. (2024). “Cities must deploy digital initiatives to cope with unknowns”. World Economic Forum.

Debnath, R. (2023, December 18). “Conspiracy Theories and Geoengineering: A data-driven look at how online climate misinformation works”. Cambridge Zero.

Diepeveen, S., Filer, T., Czibor, E., Ganduri, T., and Molana-Allen, L. (2023). Silent Crisis: Information, Decision-Making and Communities on the Frontlines of Climate Change. Internews and StateUp.

Falkner, R. (2023). “Weaponised Energy and Climate Change: Assessing Europe’s Response to the Ukraine War”. LSE Public Policy Review, 3(1), 10, 1-8.

Filer, T. (2025). Our Strategic Defence Needs a Triple Transition. StateUp

Filer, T. (2025, March 27). “Everything is resilience: Prince William in Estonia”. TechGlo (Substack).

Government Commercial Function. (2025, April 11). “The Procurement Act 2023: A short guide for suppliers (HTML)”. GOV.UK

Männi, M. (2025, March 4). “From the Russian Grid to Electricity in the Cloud. Handling Energy, Estonian Style!” Research in Estonia.

Ministry of Defence. (2025). “The Strategic Defence Review 2025: Making Britain Safer - secure at home, strong abroad”. GOV.UK.

Ministry of Defence, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, & The Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP. (2025, May 22). “Largest ever UK defence AI trial conducted across land, sea and air”. GOV.UK.

Moody, O. (2025). Baltic: The Future of Europe. John Murray

OECD (2025). Governing with Artificial Intelligence: The State of Play and Way Forward in Core Government Functions. OECD Publishing, Paris.

StateUp. (2025, September 10). “Innovation and Regulation: A Conversation with Steve Unger”. StateUp.

StateUp, Visa & Resilient Cities Network (2024). Cities that Thrive: Public financial innovation as a catalyst for urban resilience. 

Unger, S. (2025). From Beacon Fires to Fibre Broadband: A history of innovation, enterprise and regulation. Troubador Publishing Ltd.

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