Arctic Six Extended: Forum on Arctic security

Date: 28 April, 2025

Location: UiT in Tromsø

Language: English

The Arctic Six invites you to join the Arctic Six Extended to a seminar, called “Forum on Arctic security: total defence in the Nordic Arctic – perspectives from Sweden, Norway, and Finland”.

The forum aims to encourage dialogue between academia and stakeholders to strengthen cooperation and co-create solutions to ensure the safety, resilience, and prosperity of the Arctic for future generations. Together, we will explore current research and issues, and find ways to cooperate.

Programme

10.00: Coffee

10.30: Welcome Dag Rune Olsen, rector UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Introduction of A6 by Dag Avango, Director of Arctic Six

Introduction to the programme by Jan-Gunnar Winther, Prorector Research UiT

Total defense in the new geopolitical situation in the Arctic

10.40: Perspectives on new security realities in the North Deputy Minister Eivind Vad Petersson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

10.50: Total Defense in the Arctic Regions of Finland, Sweden and Norway Niklas Eklund, Professor Umeå University

• Gunhild Hoogensen, Professor UiT The Arctic University of Norway
• Laura Junka-Aikio, Professor University of Lapland

11.20: Panel: Military and defence plans and the civil society

Moderator: Niklas Eklund/Gunhild Hoogensen/Laura Junka-Aikio Chief of the Norwegian Army, Lars Lervik

Decision makers Finland/Sweden TBC Martin Rimpi, Árran, the Lule Sámi Center

Questions from the audience

12.30: Lunch

Cyber security and communication in the Arctic

13:00: Cybersecurity of everyday and disruptive technologies

Kimmo Halunen, Professor, University of Oulu and National Defense University of Finland

13.15: Keynote: Communication in the Arctic and rural area, Rickard Nilsson (TBC)

13.30: Panel/round table: moderator Kimmo Halunen

• Leader of Tromsø Geophysical Observatory, Magnar Gullikstad Johnsen, UiT the Arctic University of Norway
• Director of Biomimetics and Intelligent Systems Group, professor Juha Röning, University of Oulu, Polar connect
• Katharina Gårdfeldt, Director Swedish Polar Secretariat
• Representative from Kongsberg satellite systems, TBC

Questions from the audience

Critical infrastructures: Essential functionality and supplies across borders

14:30: When infrastructure become critical Christine Große, Assosiate Professor Luleå University of Technology (LTU)

15:00: Panel: Moderator - Christine Große

• Corine Wood-Donnelly, Professor Nord University
• Anna Krook-Riekkola, Associate Professor Luleå University of Technology
• Matthias Lindström or Linda Väre (Kvarken Council)
• Emil Granås (Arctic Youth Network)
• Nils Petter Rusaanes, Platform North

Questions from the audience

Round-up of the panel(s): Christine Große - together with Gunhild Hoogensen

15.30: Concluding remarks

15.30: Formal Transfer of Leading the Arctic Six from LTU to UiT

The Arctic Six is a partnership between Luleå University of Technology, Umeå University, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Nord University, the University of Lapland, and the University of Oulu, and together we aim to lead the way on Arctic issues.

Through this alliance we advance and share knowledge, develop education, undertake research, and create innovations for the development of our region and a sustainable Arctic.

Arctic Six Extended is a framework designed to go beyond academia in order to strengthen collaboration with regional actors and stakeholders in northern Sweden, Norway and Finland, such as state authorities, companies and local communities.