The NATO Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) (Organisation pour la Recherche et la Technologie OTAN in French) promotes and conducts co-operative scientific research and exchange of technical information amongst 26 NATO nations and 38 NATO partners. The largest such collaborative body in the world, the RTO encompasses over 3000 scientists and engineers addressing the complete scope of defence technologies and operational domains. This effort is supported by an executive agency, the Research and Technology Agency (RTA), that facilitates the collaboration by organising a wide range of studies, workshops, symposia, and other forums in which researchers can meet and exchange knowledge.