Researchers and policymakers discussed Sweden’s preparedness

The University Alliance Stockholm Trio and the Stockholm Science City Foundation organised a seminar 11 March on how Sweden can strengthen its preparedness in relation to information manipulation and critical infrastructure. Leading researchers from the universities presented current research, followed by a discussion with Lotta Edholm (Lib), Minister for Upper Secondary School, Higher Education and Research, and Peter Hultqvist (SocDem), Chair of the Committee on Defence.

The role of universities in a crisis

If Sweden were to face a crisis, universities would have several important roles to play. During presentations and discussions with the politicians, their role as an independent link between knowledge and society's various institutions was emphasised. In a crisis, they could contribute by providing reliable information, evidence to inform decision-making, training and expert support, and interdisciplinary research, as well as by countering myths and fears.

It was noted that a sound organisational structure is important on a day-to-day basis, before a crisis strikes, with clear, decentralised responsibilities and delegation systems. Several researchers also emphasised the importance of closer collaboration between universities and the Swedish authorities.

The importance of knowledge and education

Lotta Edholm agreed that Swedish public authorities need to improve their cooperation and communication with one another. She also reflected on the researchers’ analyses and the role of universities in crisis situations.

“Listening to this really gets you thinking. A well-functioning education system is a key factor in strengthening individuals’ sense of personal agency, equipping people with the knowledge and confidence to question facts from a scientific perspective. Free research is becoming increasingly important in our society, and I also believe that individuals in such a system become stronger and dare to apply their knowledge in a crisis,” said Lotta Edholm after the panel discussions.

Peter Hultqvist also discussed how a society should cope with a crisis or war situation and the role played by research and education:

“I embraced the idea that thinking is a vital form of infrastructure. People have the will and the capacity to think independently, but this requires education. Understanding one's history and developing one's own values is crucial and fosters the ability to lead an independent life. If we can apply this way of thinking to a broader societal perspective, we can create resilience. This requires a knowledge base and an educational foundation, as well as maintaining a scientific approach.”

The first seminar in a series on emergency preparedness

Speakers from the three universitites were Sebastiaan Meijer, Professor of Healthcare Logistics at KTH, Henrik Artman, Professor of Human-Computer Interaction at KTH, Georgia Destouni (Professor of Hydrology at Stockholm University and Visiting Professor at KTH), Lisa Kaati (Associate Professor of Computer and Systems Science at Stockholm University), Predrag Petrovic (Associate Professor and Consultant in Psychiatry at KI) and Johan von Schreeb (Professor of Global Disaster Medicine at KI).

The event took place at “The Cell”, a venue run by the National Museum of Science and Technology and KI, and was the first in a series of seminars running throughout 2026 and 2027 on the theme of preparedness. The seminars aim to demonstrate how research can contribute to a better understanding of, and capacity to act on, issues relating to crises, security and societal preparedness.

Related links

Read more about how researchers view preparedness in Stockholm Science City’s article from the seminar. External link.

KTH researchers’ perspectives External link.

Stockholm University researchers’ perspectives (in Swedish) External link.