Workshop on hybrid threats and regional response

Hybrid threats has received considerable attention by politicians, in the media, and from academics lately. Nord university arranged a workshop on hybrid threats and regional response in Oslo, 13.-14. October 2021, together with national and international partners in a research consortium.

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Odd Jarl Borch. Photo: Nord universitet
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Per Erik Solli. Photo: Benjamin Fredriksen / NRK Nordland

  • The aim of the workshop was to focus on the threat picture and first line response cooperation on meeting destructive hybrid attacks from foreign powers at regional levels. Different types of response alliances and networks were discussed with a focus on joint response between private-public, civilian-military organizations and agencies. Participants from public and private sectors, the military, the media and academia contributed with new perspectives and discussions on these topics.

     

    On day one of the workshop, a broad range of topics were presented and discussed:

    • The past, current and future range of hybrid threats
      Presented by Project Coordinator EU-HYBNET Emma Lappalainen, Hybrid CoE – The European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats.

    • The range of hybrid threat instruments and response options
      Presented by Principal Advisor Rick Meessen, TNO, the Netherlands Organisation for applied scientific research

    • Civilian-military cooperation in hybrid threat response: “Trends Shaping the Norwegian Society towards 2030 – Challenges for the Police, the Police Security and the Prosecuting Authority"
      Presented by Research Director Stig Rune Sellevåg, The Norwegian Defense Research Establishment

    • Flexible collaboration against hybrid threats in a total defense perspective
      Presented by PhD Candidate Ørjan N. Karlsson, Nord university

    • Police sector responsibility and capability in hybrid threat detection and response
      Presented by Director Department of preparedness Tone Vangen, The Norwegian Police Directorate

    • Local hybrid threat cases and regional challenges in Finnmark
      Presented by Editor Thomas Nilsen, The Barents Observer


Klikk her for å endre bildetResearch Director Stig Rune Sellevåg, The Norwegian Defense Research Establishment, presented the report “Trends Shaping the Norwegian Society towards 2030 – Challenges for the Police, the Police Security and the Prosecuting Authority” Photo: Odd Jarl Borch


On day two of the workshop Professor Odd Jarl Borch and Senior Advisor Per Erik Solli from Nord University in Bodo led a discussion on research priorities within the hybrid threat domain. The participants discussed relevant topics such as situational awareness and coordination of regional and national response. An important issue was the cooperation between significant actors in the European research community to face this relatively new threat typ​