PRIO has successfully secured funding for four new projects to support research addressing today’s critical societal challenges, including two focused on Norwegian security and defence.
PRIO has received funding for two projects through the Norwegian Ministry of Defense's annual call for research on security and defence policy:
- Implications of the Deteriorating Indo-Pacific Security Framework for Norwegian Defence Strategies, led by PRIO Senior Researcher Ilaria Carrozza. This project will assess the strategic competition between the U.S. and China in the Indo-Pacific region, and analyze its potential ramifications for Norwegian defence and security policy.
- Navigating the New Space Race: Implications for Norwegian Security Policy and Defence Industry, led by PRIO Doctoral Researcher Giacomo Bruni. This project will explore the implications of the growing arms race in outer space, particularly between the U.S. and China, and assess its significance for Norway's defence strategies and industry.
In addition, the Research Council of Norway has allocated new funding to support the two research projects below.
- Religious Gender Justice Activism, led by PRIO Senior Researcher Kaja Borchgrevink. The project aims to generate new theoretical insights and empirical knowledge on religious gender justice activists. The project will explore how these actors influence debates on gender-related rights both locally and globally.
- Ethical Risk Management for AI-enabled Weapons: A Systems Approach, co-led by PRIO Research Professor Greg Reichberg and Associate Professor Jovana Davidovic. The project will examine the lifecycle of AI-enabled weapons to better equip states and organizations to ensure their ethical use.
PRIO Director Henrik Urdal highlighted the importance of these projects for addressing national and global challenges: “These projects demonstrate PRIO’s ability to engage with some of today’s most complex challenges. From addressing ethical concerns around AI and weapons systems to navigating shifting security dynamics, we aim to produce knowledge that supports informed decision-making for a safer and more just world.”
“This funding highlights PRIO’s dedication to producing high-quality research that addresses emerging global challenges and supports sound policymaking for the future,” continued Urdal.
