The complexity and dynamics of our transnationally embedded societies have increased over the years. The war in Ukraine has brought fore the need for civil protection and resilience, with regained focus on civil risk awareness and societal preparedness. How can we best strengthen our abilities to handle (un)expected developments or events and their consequences?
Nordic and Baltic countries must be prepared for different types of concomitant challenges and disasters, such as hybrid attacks, organised crime and terrorist actions, wartime situations and the consequences of military actions on societies including for populations and on infrastructures.
The boundaries between civil security and state security are blurring and changing, which is evident in grey areas like hybrid threats, cyber-attacks, influence operations and disinformation. Technological development and digitalisation with the use of algorithmics and artificial intelligence, creates new and unforeseen vulnerabilities to society, and new opportunities for criminals. It also raises pressing questions about ethics and human rights and actualises the delicate balancing act between privacy and security.
There is need for a multi-hazard approach, which acknowledges the transboundary nature of emerging risks and threats. Future civil protection and resilience will require joint problem-solving and governance collaborations that transcend not only traditional boundaries, but also national borders. It will need to take into account the varied conditions of different segments of the population and their potential to contribute to societal security.
Applicants should address one or more of the following aspects in proposals:
- resilience, prevention and meeting internal and/or external antagonistic threats to societal security
- Nordic-Baltic models for total defence
- governance, capacities and regulation at multiple levels within societal security
- relationships between aspects of societal/civil security, total defence and state security
- trade-offs between personal integrity and security
The call will be announced as a collaborative effort between The Research Council of Norway, The Research Council of Finland, The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, The Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannis), The Research Council of Estonia, The Research Council of Lithuania and NordForsk.
Researchers employed at Nordic, Estonian and Lithuanian research performing institutions will be invited to submit proposals for projects within the scope of the call. Research consortiums must include research performing organisations in at least three Nordic countries or research performing organisations in at least two Nordic countries and one research performing institution in Lithuania or Estonia.
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Please note that the details of the call in the pre-announcement may be subject to change, and the final details will be provided in the call text.
