On August 19, 2025, the Institute for Global Governance Research (GGR) at Hitotsubashi University hosted the 42nd Brown Bag Lunch Seminar titled “Norway, Security and the Role of Research,” featuring Dr. Helene Thorsen Rønning, Director of Research CBRNE, Total Defence Division at the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (FFI).

Dr. Rønning introduced the concept of Norway’s total defense, which integrates military and civilian resources to build resilience against modern threats. FFI, established in 1946 after World War II, is Norway’s leading institution for defense research and development. It provides advice to the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces not only on defense technology but also on civil–military cooperation, national preparedness, and hybrid threats.

She outlined FFI’s broad research portfolio, including terrorism studies, gender perspectives in conscription, and the management of explosive remnants of war. These highlight how national security extends beyond traditional defense. Norway also emphasizes the Arctic and High North as strategic regions, where climate change is reshaping transportation routes. Emerging domains such as cyber and space, along with big data–based situational awareness, are increasingly central to defense planning.

Reflecting on the war in Ukraine, Dr.Rønning, stressed the erosion of international conventions and the rise of “hybrid interference,” which combines cyberattacks, propaganda, and financial pressure below the level of open conflict. She argued that total defense, involving all of society, is the most effective response. Norway’s new long-term defense plan and its first national security strategy stress the need to strengthen critical infrastructure, improve situational awareness, and enhance resilience.

She further noted how rapid innovation in warfare—including drones, AI, and biotechnology—has shortened development cycles, while NATO-led initiatives on cognitive warfare illustrate the importance of joint research. Dr. Rønning concluded that research-based total defense provides the foundation for a resilient democracy capable of facing hybrid threats across the crisis spectrum.

In the Q&A, participants asked about Norway’s response to the Ukraine war and its engagement in the Indo-Pacific. Dr.Rønning explained that Norway is reinforcing its armed forces while prioritizing support for Ukraine, since its defense is linked to Norway’s own security. She added that cooperation with Japan and other democracies has become increasingly important in today’s interconnected global security environment.

Following the event, a courtesy visit was paid to Professor Yasuhiro Otsuki, Director of the Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study.

[Event report prepared by] Chiaoyu Lo (Master student, School of International and Public Policy, Hitotsubashi University)