New doctoral programme in Systems Science for Defence and Security

On 14 October, the Board of the Swedish Defence University decided to establish Systems Science for Defence and Security as a doctoral research subject. The new doctoral programme will strengthen the University's research environment and create opportunities to train doctoral students in areas such as cyber security, defence innovation and space capabilities.

Research in Systems Science for Defence and Security focuses on the interaction between technology, people and organisations in the field of defence and security. By combining knowledge from the social sciences and engineering, the subject contributes to developing methods and knowledge to address current and future security challenges.

“Systems Science for Defence and Security bridges traditional boundaries between different research disciplines. This enables us to study complex defence and security issues from multiple perspectives. The new doctoral research subject will be an important complement to the University's existing doctoral programmes”, says Hans Liwång, Deputy Head of the Department of Systems Science for Defence and Security.

Building on a growing research environment

Research in Systems Science for Defence and Security has its roots in the University's research in military technology. Since 2019, the subject has developed, partly through collaboration with other higher education institutions.

“These collaborations give us access to expertise and enable us to address research questions that would be difficult to tackle on our own”, says Hans Liwång.

There are currently just over ten doctoral students affiliated with Systems Science for Defence and Security. They are enrolled in doctoral programmes at other higher education institutions. The new programme will enable the Swedish Defence University to admit doctoral students in its own right.

“We hope to admit our first doctoral students during the first half of 2027. These may include both new doctoral students and individuals who are already affiliated with our research environment”, says Hans Liwång.

Research on the future of defence and security

Doctoral students will be able to conduct research in areas such as capability development and defence innovation, infrastructure resilience, cyber security and cyber operations, space capabilities, warfighting capabilities, psychological defence, and intelligence and security services.

A common focus of this research is how technology interacts with factors such as organisational structures, expertise and military practices.

Hans Liwång also sees opportunities to further develop the University's doctoral research environment by bringing together doctoral students with different backgrounds and experiences.

“We already have an exciting mix of doctoral students. The new doctoral research subject will allow us to strengthen our research environment further, while continuing to collaborate with other disciplines, higher education institutions and doctoral research schools”, he says.