Arctic Security Forum

Arctic security has had and continues to have profound impact on Nordic and European Arctic. We, six Nordic Universities located in the European Arctic, call for an open dialogue and increased cooperation between academia and stakeholders; policy makers, defence forces, cities, communities, and businesses to address the security challenges our region is facing. Building on the success of the first “Forum on Arctic Security: Total Defense in the Fennoscandian Arctic – Perspectives from Sweden, Norway, and Finland”, held in Tromsø, Norway in April 2025, we are now inviting you to join a follow-up Forum, which will feature high-level presentations and discussions with co-creation of new joint initiatives.

Join us at the Arctic Security Forum in Oulu on June 16-17, 2026, for an event where we will first gather for a full day presentations and discussions on the most pressing Arctic security issues of today, followed by a second day with three co-creation workshops to establish new cooperation, projects and plans under the main three topics of the forum:

Theme 1: Total Defence

Theme 2: Transportation

Theme 3: Preparedness in the North

Keynotes

Nathan Robinson Grison, Director of the Committee on Democracy and Security & Sub-Committee on Resilience and Civil Security, NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Gunhild Hoogensen-Gjørv, Professor in Security Studies and Geopolitics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Programme

16 June 2026, Aurora Hall

8.30 Registration

9.00 Opening and welcome

• Matti Latva-aho, Vice Rector for Research, University of Oulu, Finland
• Jørgen Berge, Director of the Arctic Six, Vice Rector Research, UiT The Arctic University of Norway

9.15 Keynotes

• 9.15 Comprehensive security: Enhancing resilience across the NATO Alliance through a whole-of-society approach? Nathan Robinson Grison, Director, Committee on Democracy and Security & Sub-Committee on Resilience and Civil Security Director, Research Programme (online)
• 9.35 Gunhild Hoogensen-Gjørv, Professor in Security Studies and Geopolitics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway

10.00 Coffee/networking

10.30 Panel: Total Defence and Comprehensive Security

Panel will discuss about the concepts of Total Defence used in Norway and Sweden and Comprehensive Security used in Finland and how these address needs of society at large and what role universities, EU, and regions can have in those.

• Moderator: Niklas Eklund, Professor, Umeå University, Sweden
• Opening remarks: Sanna Kopra, Research Professor in Arctic Geopolitics and Security, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Finland

Panel discussion:

• Matti Blind Berg, Chair of Svenska samernas riksförbund, Sweden
• Linda Solstrand Dahlberg, Head of Brussels Office, Senior Adviser, UiT The Arctic University of Norway
• Antti Kamunen, Associated Professor, University of Oulu, Finland
• Sanna Kopra, Research Professor in Arctic Geopolitics and Security, Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Finland
• Corine Wood-Donnelly, Professor of International Relations & the High North, Nord University, Norway

12.00 Lunch

13.00 Panel: Transportation

• Moderator: Johanna Ikävalko, UiT
• Opening remarks: Ari Alatossava, Mayor of Oulu, Finland

Panel discussion:

• Ari Alatossava, Mayor of Oulu, Finland
• Juho Kähkönen, Researcher, University of Lapland, Finland
• Roberto Rivas Hermann, Arctic Six Chair, Nord University, Norway
• Gabriel Sas, Professor, Luleå Technical University, Sweden

14.30 Coffee/networking

15.00 Panel: Preparedness in the North

• Moderator: Jarkko Saarinen, Professor, University of Oulu, Finland
• Opening remarks: Juha Mantila, Special Adviser, National Emergency Supply Agency in Finland

Panel discussion:

• Heini Iinatti, Pro Agria/Rural Women's Advisory Organization, Finland
• Morten Høylo, Head of Community Relations Northern-Norway, Lerøy Seafood Group, Norway
• Ossi Kotavaara, Research Director, Kerttu Saalasti Institute, University of Oulu, Finland
• Juha Mantila, Special Adviser, National Emergency Supply Agency in Finland
• Jaakko Nuotio, Risk Manager, Valio Finland
• Emelie Johansen Wold, Assistant Professor, Nord University, Norway

16.30 Closing plenary

Youth perspectives by the Arctic Six Student Team

Perspectives from Arctic Council

• Kalle Kankaanpää, Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, Finland
• Jorid Hammersland, Deputy Director, Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Kjetil J. Halvorsen, Senior Advisor, Section for Arctic and Antarctic Affairs, Department for Security Policy, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

17.00 End of the first day

17 June 2026, Workshops, Puisto-Patio Hall

9.00 Introduction to workshop

EU funding opportunities

10.00 Workshops: Total defence (Puisto-Patio Hall), Transportation (Linna cabinet) and Preparedness in the North (Rossi cabinet)

12.00 Lunch break

13.00 Workshops continue

14.00 Joint feedback session, Puisto-Patio Hall

15.00 Next steps

15.30 Closing

Registration

Register for the event by 1 June at the latest.

Venue

Hotel Lasaretti, Kasarmitie 13, Oulu

Accommodation

Please note that Oulu is the European Capital of Culture for 2026, which may affect hotel room availability. We recommend that you book your accommodation well in advance.

What is Arctic Six?

The Arctic Six unites six leading Northern Nordic Universities: Luleå University of Technology, Umeå University, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Nord University, the University of Lapland, and the University of Oulu. Arctic Six provides unique, interdisciplinary insights and solutions tailored to European Arctic-specific issues. Our networks and close ties to local communities ensure practical, inclusive approaches to address the evolving geopolitical and security landscape in Fennoscandia. Arctic Six represents therefore a transformative approach to Arctic challenges by integrating academic excellence with stakeholder needs. Through interdisciplinary research, education, and collaboration, the alliance plays a vital role in enhancing security, sustainability, and cooperation in the Arctic region.