| No. | Topic | # | Description | |
| 1. | CorOnaVirus and the Intelligence sector – how paNdemics shape the securiTy stratEgy deveLopment process worLdwide | #COVINTELL | The world crisis generated by the appearance and the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus has not only determined a change in people’s attitudes, social behaviors and daily routines, but has also posed a number of increased challenges for governments all over the world in terms of resources allocation in order to prevent the effects of Sars COV-2 on the population’s wellbeing, state economy, political life and so on. In this context, the role played by the Intelligence sector is crucial in the fight against the virus, all Intelligence agencies and organizations having to work as a team in order to identify the best and most efficient strategy to combat this invisible, unpredictable enemy. Therefore, this topic aims to bring together experts, analysts, practitioners and researchers that will discuss the effects and impact of COVID-19 virus on state development and the policies and action plans adopted by different state actors to counter this threat.
Participants are encouraged to address in their papers the following subjects (but not limited to):
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| 2. | The TRANSFORMATION Process – The road to a data-driven (intelligence) organization
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#TRANSFORMATION | The ubiquity of data and the rise of new tools and techniques have changed the organizational landscape and have heightened the importance of a data-driven strategy for competitive differentiation. Intelligence organizations, while defined as relative poles of monopole within their business areas, are dealing with increasingly complex and novel national security threats. Thus placed under the sign of constant reform, the organization must learn how to adapt and integrate new ways of working in order to prevent and counteract novel security threats. This topic aims to address the main challenges faced by a national security organization when seeking to design and implement a data driven strategy. Proposed papers are encouraged to address the following issues:
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| 3. | INterCultural studiEs: bridging the gaP beTween natIons thrOugh commuNication | #INCEPTION | Culture is an important factor in establishing relationships between nations in any domain (diplomatic, economic, business etc.), therefore, cultural implications are an essential element for succeeding in international context. This topic aims at helping participants breaking down cultural barriers and building awareness of cultural norms, as well as at enhancing self-awareness and communication skills.
Participants are encouraged to address in their papers the following subjects (but not limited to):
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| 4. | OPen souRce Intelligence in the era of dIgitalization: conNecting the dots between intelliGence gathering and sociaL mEdia | #PRINGLE | The digital revolution/ technology boom and the adoption of the GDPR legislation changed the game in the domain of open source intelligence, requiring this specific sector to reform in order to be able to manage the new challenges (such as impact of data security laws, geopolitical challenges, enormous flow of information etc.). In this context, the panel aims to bring together experts, analysts, practitioners and researchers that will discuss the challenges posed by the legislative changes and technological developments to the Intelligence fields, in terms of OSINT.
Participants are encouraged to address in their papers the following subjects (but not limited to):
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| 5. | CybersecuRity under the lens of Artificial Intelligence: the unsPoken war of digiTal innOvations | #CRAIPTO | Decades ago the idea of a new unpredictable war battlefield, like cyberspace, seemed to be far-fetched, but nowadays cyberwarfare has become a genuine variable which significantly contributes to the reorganization of the world order. The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence tools and software continuously transformed the strategies developed by international actors to ensure the safety of their online environments. Therefore, the panel aims at examining the latest research, trends and developments in this sector, trying to identify, at the same time, the next-generation challenges for cybersecurity.
Participants are encouraged to address in their papers the following subjects (but not limited to):
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| 6. | Next lEvel educaTion: Gamification and digital teAching Methods for the gEneration of today | #NETGAME | The use of video games, interactive tools and technological platforms in the classroom has become a major trend in the contemporary societies. Researchers showed that play/game has a major implication in student’s process of learning, supporting intellectual, emotional and social wellbeing. This panel aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences on education curricula design and methods, by creating an interdisciplinary platform to present and debate recent innovations, trends and challenges in the field of digital education.
Participants are encouraged to address in their papers the following subjects (but not limited to):
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| 7. | INTELLigence and security cooperation in HISTORY: theory and practice | #INTELLHISTORY | Intelligence and security cooperation continues to be problematic because the threats that intelligence services are tasked with confronting have become increasingly transnational in nature, therefore intelligence services has to cooperate with services in other states to meet these challenges. However, intelligence historians agree that the cooperation between states and secret services in some areas of intelligence operations is longstanding. Thus, researchers in intelligence history such as C.M. Andrew and R.J. Aldrich have argued that substantial intelligence cooperation – often referred to as liaison – has its roots in nineteenth-century efforts to exchange information on anarchism. The aim of this panel is to analyse and debate, from theoretical and practical perspectives, the key moments in the intelligence and security cooperation history. | |
| 8. | “New arguments, old GEOPOLITICS”: regional security and diplomacy | #GEOPOLITICS | The idea of a sanitary belt against the Russian influence comes back periodically in the forefront of security discussions in Central and Eastern Europe. Starting from the assumption “new arguments, old geopolitics”, we propose the analysis and debate of the key moments in the foreign policy of Eastern and Central European states, in which projects for the realization of a sanitary belt against the Soviet/Russian influence, such as Intermarium, B9 and Three Seas, were promoted. Moreover, the papers can focus also on new and innovative strategies, such as the use of private military companies in different geopolitical crises. | |
| 9. | IntElligenCe and nOn-classIcal threats – detectiNg and prevenTing biological and EcologicaL threats to security | #ECOINTEL | Recent strategic documents of global powers, such as the European Union Global Strategy and the United States National Security Strategy focus, in addition to the threats posed by other states or those of a weakening economy, on the possible havoc that an ecological or biological catastrophe might wreak on the individual state or on its trading partners. However, intelligence analysis methodologies, previously used to forecast the intentions and capabilities of nation-state actors can also be used to evaluate the possible scenarios caused by these new threats. The topic welcomes papers on how can intelligence be used to detect, prevent and eliminate non-classical threats such as global warming or pandemics. | |
| 10. | Global or Local trends? – DevelOpments in foreCAsting methodoLogy | #GLOCAL | While the idea of predicting the future is not new, recent advances in forecasting methodology have led to the publishing of reports such as the National Intelligence Council’s Alternative Worlds or NATO’s Multiple Futures Project. Both rely on the classical method of scenario building, developed from intelligence analysis, to identify the megatrends that will affect the world of the future and to develop potential scenarios. However, this methodology could be questioned – is the use of megatrends really useful or should trends focus on particular regions? The topic invites papers on how forecasting methodology has developed over the past ten years and proposals on how this can be improved. |