Sipke de Hoop appointed Professor of Resilience and Security: “We want to get society moving”

Empty supermarket shelves, cancelled trains and websites going offline. These were among the consequences of the cyberattack on Albert Heijn, the acts of sabotage on the railway network and the PHP vulnerability: recent examples of security incidents causing major disruption to society. “Unfortunately, security can no longer be taken for granted.”

The global security landscape is changing, says Sipke de Hoop, Professor of Resilience and Security at NHL Stenden. “Our strategic autonomy is at stake. Europe and our country are being ‘attacked’, threatened and blackmailed. Russia is doing so militarily through hybrid attacks, China economically, and the United States ideologically.” It is no coincidence that one of the key priorities of the proposed new EU budget is protecting people and building preparedness and resilience.

The question is not simply how the Netherlands and Europe can protect themselves against threats, but also how society responds when things go wrong. How can organisations continue to function during a crisis? How can citizens recognise disinformation? And how can governments, businesses and residents support one another when pressure mounts?

Research by the Netherlands Red Cross shows that people in the Netherlands are still poorly prepared for emergencies. “Society is becoming increasingly aware of these issues, but much more needs to be done, and there is considerable room for improvement,” says Sipke.

The aim of his Resilience and Security research group is to translate knowledge and research into practical tools that enable organisations and citizens to strengthen their awareness, preparedness and ability to respond. “We want to get society moving.”

Under Sipke's leadership, the research group investigates what makes communities resilient – and how their resilience can be strengthened. The ways in which Ukrainian organisations and residents respond to the threat of war, Finland's preparations at a societal level, and Estonia's approach to tackling disinformation all offer valuable insights. The research group is also examining how Spain and Portugal dealt with the major power outage and what lessons can be learned from their experiences for the northern Netherlands.

What worked well during these crises? What challenges did countries, communities and/or organisations face? And which approaches can help us respond more quickly and effectively when the next crisis occurs?

The research group works with a wide range of partners, including government ministries, provincial authorities, municipalities, regional safety authorities, businesses, research institutions and the Ministry of Defence. At the Security Campus, it brings these parties together to develop knowledge and work collaboratively on current security challenges.

In addition to his role as Professor, Sipke is also the founding coordinator of the Security Campus in Assen. In this role, he contributes to the further development of cooperation between organisations in the security sector and aims to establish a research and expertise centre within the campus.

Students also play an important role in the Resilience and Security research group. Working in multidisciplinary teams, they can carry out practical assignments for organisations and businesses. This brings education, research and professional practice together, creating opportunities to test new knowledge directly in real-world situations.

Research projects are planned in Sneek and Assen, for example. “Imagine the power goes out in Assen. What do we do then? We go into the neighbourhoods and investigate. What does a power outage mean for residents? Not just in practical terms, but mentally as well. How can we help one another in such a situation? And what if the outage lasts a very long time and affects an even larger area? What then? As a society, we need to prepare for that.”

Through this research group, NHL Stenden aims to contribute to a society that not only understands the threats it faces, but also knows how to respond to them. By bringing together research, education and collaboration, the research group seeks to strengthen societal resilience in the northern Netherlands.