Research

Our research

Our research group conducts interdisciplinary research that strengthens societal resilience, security, and trust in an increasingly digital and interconnected world. Guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our work contributes in particular to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Resilient Communities), SDG16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). We aim to support a sustainable, peaceful, and equitable society, today and in the future, by designing digital solutions that are not only technically robust, but also socially responsible and institutionally viable.

A defining characteristic of our group is its socio‑technical perspective. We study how people, digital technologies, and institutions interact to shape safety, resilience, and trust in modern societies. Socio-technical systems are not just technical solutions; they are living systems where humans, data, organizations, regulations, and infrastructures are tightly connected. Our research focuses on understanding and improving these systems so that societies can function securely, fairly, and reliably, even under pressure from crises, rapid digitalization, and climate change. 

Socio-Technical Systems

Our socio-technical systems research examines how digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Cloud Computing, and Data Analytics are embedded in real organizational and societal contexts. We combine advanced data analytics, machine learning, and human-centered design to ensure that digital systems are usable, trustworthy, and aligned with social values. We focus on creating people-first intelligent systems that help make sense of complex information in real time, while ensuring that humans remain in control. We place strong emphasis on privacy, data protection, ethics and good governance, so that new technologies build public trust and support responsible innovation across areas such as public services, transport and mobility, energy, health, agriculture and community services. 

Secure Societies

Our secure societies research addresses risk, crisis preparedness and management, and societal resilience. We study how societies can prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural hazards, cyber threats, scams and social tensions. Key topics include social cybersecurity, online harms, critical infrastructure resilience, emergency preparedness, and community resilience. Our work supports public authorities, organizations, and communities by developing knowledge, methods, and tools that strengthen safety, coordination, and legitimacy in times of crisis. 

Human–Machine Teaming and Resilient Collaboration

One of the core research areas is cutting-edge human–machine teaming. We study how people and automated agents work together in complex and safety-critical settings. Our research analyzes team structures to identify where collaboration between humans and AI works well and where it breaks down. We focus on improving adaptability, shared understanding, and decision-making so that socio-technical systems can adjust to changing situations and uncertainty, making human-AI teams more resilient and reliable over time. 

The group has extensive experience in requirements elicitation, specification, analysis, and management, as well as in designing and conducting empirical research such as case studies and action research. We validate research results through large-scale demonstrations, pilots, and testing in operational environments. Our work is grounded in close collaboration with public sector organizations, industry, and civil society, offering cross-sector expertise, technological insight, and a strong commitment to sustainable, practical solutions. 

We collaborate closely with national and international partners from academia, public authorities, industry, and civil society. Our partnerships span Norway, Europe, and beyond, enabling interdisciplinary research, knowledge transfer, and real-world impact. Through these collaborations, we act as a bridge between advanced digital research and the practical needs of society.