NEWS It was during the summer of 2024 that Niklas Eklund, Professor of Political Science at the Department of Political Science, received an exciting question from the University Management: Would he be interested in taking over as Director of the European CBRNE Center? After a period of reflection and internal processes, it became clear that he would take on the responsibility in the beginning of 2025.
CBRNE is the international abbreviation for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive substances. CBRNE describes activities concerning dangerous and harmful substances of either biological, chemical, radioactive, nuclear or explosive character. CBRNE events can be caused by accidents, antagonistic events, or other factors. While these events are rare, they are often very serious, which is why constant preparedness is necessary.
Niklas Eklund, Professor at Department of Political Science, took over the role as Director of the European CBRNE Center in the beginning of 2025
Image Mattias PetterssonThe fact that the choice fell on a political scientist and not a biologist or chemist may, given the subject area CBRNE, seem unexpected but Niklas belives his background in security policy change, geopolitics and Arctic security, led to him being entrusted with the position. The European CBRNE Center has a tradition of initiating, participating in and coordinating EU projects, and within these there is an increasing demand for interdisciplinary perspectives, including Social sciences and Humanities.
Niklas is also not new to the task of leading a center. He was previously the Director of the Arctic Center at Umeå University, which gave him valuable experience.
”As a political scientist, I am of course a great believer in good governance, but I also realise that all organisations have their inherent logic. I really hope to combine a sense of order with flexibility at the European CBRNE Center. It is always an exciting journey to try to take on genuinely interdisciplinary environments. At the moment, I'm still learning the ropes here at the center, but the opportunity to work across departments and disciplines is very exciting.”
As for the challenges and perspectives on CBRNE issues in Sweden and Europe, Niklas believes the growing availability of information and connections online, along with the rapid development of new technology, is changing current and future threat scenarios.
”We live in complex times, especially with the technological possibilities that exist today to acquire materials and methods for using CBRNE substances in an antagonistic way. Look at the explosions that take place around Sweden almost daily, it makes you wonder what could happen if malicious people or groups gain access and the skills to use other methods or dangerous substances, such as chemical or biological. Another challenge, not only related to CBRNE, is the question of trust in sources of information, will 'people' continue to listen to scientists and authorities, or will they in the future obtain their information mainly through other channels or from other actors? And if so, which ones?”
He also believes that the European CBRNE Centers' contribution and CBRNE issues in general will be of much bigger importance in the years to come.
I believe that CBRNE issues will become increasingly important in the renewal of our various defense models in the Nordic region. I also see extensive security policy change underway both within and across national borders here in the north, and it would be a shame if Umeå University with its broad range of competence would not take part in that change.
What Niklas is looking forward to is building on the centre's strong contacts with authorities, organisations and actors. The steering committee and the collaboration with the centre's partner organisations represent a great potential in further developing collaborations that strengthen Swedish, Nordic and European security.
”Although I have only met the steering committee twice so far, I look forward to continuing the work and together exploring the way forward for the European CBRNE Center.”
How do you see Umeå's role, position and importance within the CBRNE topics contributing to the work of the European CBRNE Center?
”In the Umeå region, we sometimes talk about the 'CBRNE cluster'. Although it sounds like a strange expression, it stands for something important. In the region, CBRNE expertise is close, between the Swedish Armed Forces, FOI and Umeå University. There are also good contacts with other central actors such as the Swedish Police, the Swedish Fortifications Agency, Umeå Municipality, Region Västerbotten and the County Administrative Board of Västerbotten, among others. There is a critical mass here in both research and practice that makes the Umeå region unique.”
And outside work? Then there is another passion that perhaps not everyone knows about.
”Not many people know that I have a soft spot for old cars. And not only that, I own one myself. Niklas says with a smile and excuses himself to continue his workday and his mission as Director of the European CBRNE Center.”
