Advancing defence cooperation, societal resilience, and support for Ukraine
| Dato | Tid | Sted | Billetter |
|---|---|---|---|
|
9. nov.
- 10. nov. 2026
|
08:30
- 15:00
|
Co-hosted by the Norwegian Defence University College and the National Defence University of Ukraine in association with the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection’s Total Defence Year 2026.
Total Defence – Ellisiv Forum 26 is an international conference bringing together both military and civilian leaders, policymakers, researchers, and humanitarian practitioners to examine total defence in a changing security environment.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has placed renewed emphasis on the importance of total defence: the ability of societies, institutions, and armed forces to prepare for, withstand, and respond to complex security threats. Drawing on Ukraine’s ongoing fight for sovereignty and security as a key source of inspiration, the forum aims to address total defence in a broad whole-of-society perspective.
Total Defence – Ellisiv Forum 26 explores how states and societies can develop the institutional frameworks, operational capabilities, and societal resilience required to meet today’s and tomorrow’s security challenges. Ukraine’s experience will serve as a key source of insight into resilience, sovereignty, and whole-of-society defence, while advances in simulation, wargaming, and artificial intelligence will be examined for their potential to enhance training and education of tomorrows practitioners.
The conference is organised by the Norwegian Defence University College, in partnership with the National Defence University of Ukraine during the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection’s Total Defence Year 2026. The forum is embedded within Operation Ellisiv, the Norwegian Armed Forces’ long-term effort to support Ukraine through defence cooperation, education, training, capability development, and research.
The conference addresses total defence from strategic, civil-military, and educational perspectives.
The first day focuses on academic paper presentations, panel debates, and workshops addressing total defence, resilience, capability development, and lessons from Ukraine.
Day two turns to the practical use of modelling, simulation, and wargaming in higher education and training, with particular emphasis on how these tools condition and aid decision-makers in a total defence context. The second day brings together contributions from the Norwegian Defence University College, the National Defence University of Ukraine, the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, industry partners, and representatives from state and civil society actors.
An agenda will be uploaded at a later date.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces and Allied Support
Lessons from Ukraine’s ongoing defence, including operational experience, capability development, international support mechanisms, and cooperation with allies and partners.
Hybrid Warfare and Societal Resilience
The role of civilian institutions, public trust, information resilience, infrastructure protection, and whole-of-society preparedness.
Total Defence as Theory and Practice
Conceptual, historical, comparative, and practical approaches to total defence in Norway, Ukraine, NATO countries, and beyond.
Wargaming, Simulation, and Modelling
How can states, institutions, and civil society better utilise modelling, simulation, and wargaming in conjunction with AI to improve education, training and situational awareness?
Military Capability Enhancement
How states can build, adapt, and sustain military capabilities under conditions of high-intensity warfare, technological change, and long-term strategic competition.
Interoperability with NATO
Challenges and opportunities related to doctrine, training, command structures, standards, logistics, and operational cooperation.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces and Allied Support
Lessons from Ukraine’s ongoing defence, including operational experience, capability development, international support mechanisms, and cooperation with allies and partners.
Hybrid Warfare and Societal Resilience
The role of civilian institutions, public trust, information resilience, infrastructure protection, and whole-of-society preparedness.
Total Defence as Theory and Practice
Conceptual, historical, comparative, and practical approaches to total defence in Norway, Ukraine, NATO countries, and beyond.
Wargaming, Simulation, and Modelling
How can states, institutions, and civil society better utilise modelling, simulation, and wargaming in conjunction with AI to improve education, training and situational awareness?
Military Capability Enhancement
How states can build, adapt, and sustain military capabilities under conditions of high-intensity warfare, technological change, and long-term strategic competition.
Interoperability with NATO
Challenges and opportunities related to doctrine, training, command structures, standards, logistics, and operational cooperation.
The conference will be hosted at Akershus Fortress (Akershus festning), located in central Oslo. Akershus Fortress is a historic military site and an important symbol of Norwegian defence history, offering a unique setting for the conference.
Please note that access to parts of the conference venue at Akershus Fortress may be subject to security procedures.
Information on registration requirements and access arrangements will be provided well in advance of the conference.
For more information about travel to and in Oslo, see Visit Oslo.
A number of hotels are located within walking distance or a short public transport ride from Akershus Fortress. Participants are responsible for booking their own accommodation.
We offer negotiated prices at:
Information about hotel bookings will be shared once you have completed your registration.
For questions about the conference or the special issue, please contact Jostein Mattingsdal, jomattingsdal@mil.no, Norwegian Defence University College
Authors whose manuscripts are still undergoing peer review at the time of the conference are welcome to present their work.
This is a normal part of the publication process and will not affect participation. On the contrary, the conference provides an opportunity to receive valuable feedback, strengthen manuscripts, and engage in academic and professional dialogue with peers, practitioners, and decision-makers.
In connection with the conference, the Norwegian Defence University College and the National Defence University of Ukraine invite submissions for a special issue of the open access peer-reviewed journal Necesse.
Paper submission deadline: 1 September 2026
Review notifications: October–November 2026
Expected publication: Spring 2027
The Nansen Programme is Norway’s long-term framework for supporting Ukraine in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion. Initially launched in 2023 with a five-year allocation, the programme has since been extended until 2030 and represents the largest and longest-lasting aid commitment in Norway’s history.
Within this framework, the Norwegian Armed Forces have consolidated their support to Ukraine under Operation Ellisiv. Read more about how the Norwegian Armed Forces assist Ukraine
The Norwegian Defence University College contributes to Operation Ellisiv through education, leadership development, and research on military operations, in close cooperation with Ukrainian partners. This work includes programmes such as Black Sea Battle Lab, Vantage Train, and Ukraine and Full-Spectrum Threats.
Total Defence – Ellisiv Forum 26 builds on this work by creating a dedicated arena for analysing, discussing, and sharing experiences from Ukraine to strengthen defence capability and prepare for future security challenges.
Participants may also to note that the annual UKRAINETT+ Conference 2026 will take place at OsloMet, immediately after Total Defence – Ellisiv Forum 26.
Titled “State and Society Under Pressure: Internal and External Dynamics,” the UKRAINETT+ conference addresses themes closely connected to total defence, societal resilience, and foreign support for Ukraine.
Together, the two conferences offer participants an opportunity to engage with Ukraine-related security, resilience, and total-defence themes across a full conference week in Oslo, bringing together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders from across relevant academic and professional communities. Find more information about the conference here.
