“Security threats and risks in today’s society are increasingly difficult to predict and can change rapidly, requiring expertise and enhanced external engagement. In addition, the changes in Sweden’s crisis management in recent years, including NATO membership, have increased the need for education and research in defence and crisis preparedness. Consequently, Lund University is now establishing the Centre for Preparedness and Resilience. Sweden is investing heavily in total defence and Lund University has every opportunity to contribute vital societal research and education in the field. I am very happy and proud that the University’s investment in LUPREP is becoming a reality and that the faculties’ multifaceted knowledge is now being harnessed. The Centre will serve as a strong knowledge environment for researchers, doctoral students and students, but will also help the rest of society to collaborate on key total defence issues,” says Lund University’s Vice-Chancellor Erik Renström.
Linked to LUPREP, Lund University is creating a graduate school with six new doctoral positions – four in defence research specialising in social science and two with a legal focus.
Two new Master’s programmes related to the Centre’s activities are also under development. One, Master’s Programme in Total Defence and Civil Preparedness, is aimed at existing students but also at professionals in the preparedness sector. The second – Master’s Programme in Total Defence and Security Policy – will be taught in English and is aimed primarily at social scientists, lawyers and economists both within Sweden and beyond.
Lund University is investing a total of SEK 37 million in the graduate school and the new LUPREP, which leverages research from seven of the University’s nine faculties and is physically located at Campus Helsingborg. Campus Helsingborg is already home to the Psychological Defence Research Institute and the University has recently provided funding for three new defence research projects, which will also be located there: Healthcare Logistics to Strengthen Total Defence and Crisis Management, Educating for Crises: Historical Challenges in Civil Defence and Preparedness Pedagogy, and Communication, Defence Willingness and Democratic Resilience. Set up in 2024, the Helsingborg Safety Hub lab houses research equipment for safety research and education and uses technologies such as virtual reality, driving simulation and geographical information systems.
“We are very pleased that this investment, which we have long wanted to implement, is now finally becoming a reality. Lund University has conducted extensive research in the field, and by bringing it together under a common umbrella, we can capitalise more on our shared expertise,” says Agnes Andersson, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences under which LUPREP will be organised.
Current research at Lund University that will be particularly relevant to the Centre’s activities includes:
- Communication, disinformation and psychological defence
- State control of public activities and enterprises with a focus on security and crisis preparedness
- Innovations in cutting-edge technologies relevant to total defence
- Organisation and management of vital societal functions
- Critical infrastructure
- Civil defence and crisis management
- The role of culture and creative industries in total defence