HCSS - The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies

🌐 New HCSS Report: Non-profit Organisations Essential to Global Cybersecurity 🛡️ Behind the scenes, non-profit cybersecurity organisations help protect critical infrastructure, support SMEs, coordinate cyber incident responses, and strengthen global digital resilience - often with limited funding and little public recognition. 💡 A new HCSS report by Hans H., Ron Stoop and Jan Feldhusen for the Common Good Cyber reveals just how essential these organisations have become to the safety and continuity of the digital world. 🚨 Why are governments willing to spend billions on cyber defence, but comparatively little on the non-profit organisations quietly holding the digital ecosystem together? What happens if they disappear? And can a resilient cyber ecosystem still exist without them? 🔎 Explore the key findings in this carousel, and read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ecBdrfwJ

🎙️In deze aflevering van de 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫-podcast bespreek ik het energienieuws van de week met Ron Stoop van HCSS - The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies: van de oplopende energieprijzen door de oorlog in het Midden-Oosten tot de toenemende drukte op het stroomnet. Daarna zoomen ze in op de wereldwijde zonnepanelenindustrie. China domineert de markt, maar heeft inmiddels zo'n enorme overcapaciteit dat fabrikanten onder de kostprijs werken en omvallen. Is dat een crisis, of juist een gezonde shake-out? En vooral: wat betekent het voor Europa, dat voor meer dan 95 procent afhankelijk is van Chinese panelen? Dieper in de keten gaat het ook over de verborgen afhankelijkheid bij de grondstof polysilicium, het Groningse RESiLICON dat daar verandering in wil brengen, de 'kill switch' in Chinese omvormers, en de vraag of Europa de politieke wil heeft om een eigen industrie op te bouwen. Kijk/luister de podcast (en abonneer je meteen, zodat je geen aflevering mist!) 👇 https://lnkd.in/em9nFfQx

🚨 New internship opportunity at HCSS: Water, Peace and Security (WPS), starting mid-August 2026. Work on the link between water scarcity and security in MENA. The Water, Peace and Security (WPS) internship at HCSS offers a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge research linking water scarcity and security dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa. Interns contribute to tools that help anticipate and reduce water-related risks, support stakeholder dialogue, and develop training and workshops on the water-security nexus. Working from The Hague, successful candidates will join a fast-paced, interdisciplinary team and gain hands-on experience in policy-relevant research. Strong analytical skills, creativity, and excellent English are required. Arabic is a strong advantage. Applications close Sunday 28 June at 12:00. Check our website for the full details: https://lnkd.in/e_5cETSn

📊 Geopolitical volatility is no longer a distant concern. According to business leaders worldwide, geopolitical risk has risen from the 21st most significant risk in 2023 to 9th in 2025, and is expected to reach 5th place by 2028. As global trade, investment, and supply chains become increasingly shaped by geopolitical developments, understanding these dynamics is essential for businesses and policymakers alike. 🌐 On 8 June, the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), together with HCSS - The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies and the World Trade Center Netherlands Alliance | WTC NL, will host the 2026 Geopolitical Update. This virtual briefing will examine the geopolitical, economic, and trade trends expected to shape the international business environment in the year ahead. During the event, HCSS Datalab Manager Jesse Kommandeur will present the second edition of the Geopolitical Annual Trade Risk Index (GATRI) – a practical, data-driven tool designed to track geopolitical stability and its impact on global trade. 🔎 GATRI: https://hcss.nl/gatri/ Participants will gain insights into: • Emerging geopolitical risks and opportunities for international business; • Shifting trade relationships and supply chain resilience; • Regional security developments and policy uncertainty; • Practical strategies for navigating an increasingly complex global environment. After an opening by WTC NL boardmember Freerk Faber, the programme will also feature a keynote by Prof. dr. Rob De Wijk and a discussion with entrepreneurs on the implications of geopolitical developments for business. 📅 8 June 2026 ⏲️ 11:00 – 13:00 CEST 📍 Livestream and in-person programme at High Tech Campus Eindhoven Participation is free for WTCA members and their networks. Registration is required. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e8wEb6vT

De VN staan onder zware druk. Oorlogen woeden voort, grootmachten blokkeren besluitvorming, lidstaten betalen hun contributies niet en zelfs een financieel faillissement wordt niet uitgesloten. Sven Koopmans vraagt zich af wie de volgende Secretaris-Generaal van de Verenigde Naties wordt – en of die persoon de organisatie nieuw leven kan inblazen. Van de huidige crisis en de belangrijkste kandidaten tot de vraag welke rol de VN nog kan spelen in een snel veranderende wereldorde. Lees de column van Sven Koopmans, Hoofd Onderhandelingen bij HCSS, nu in het Het Financieele Dagblad: https://lnkd.in/eceqCmJH

How is Europe positioning itself in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical landscape? As relations between Europe and the United States evolve and the Indo-Pacific gains strategic importance, questions surrounding European security, strategic autonomy, and international partnerships are becoming more pressing. Join us for a discussion featuring: • Thijs Reuten (European Parliament, Rapporteur on Defence and Security) • Roberta N. Haar (Maastricht University) • Richard Ghiasy (Leiden Asia Centre) The event will conclude with a panel discussion moderated by Niels van Willigen, with opportunities for audience interaction. 📍 Universiteit Leiden (Leiden University), Spui Campus, The Hague We look forward to an engaging conversation on the future of Europe's place in the world. The Mauritssymposium is organised by KVBK, Mars & Mercurius, EuroDefense Network and HCSS - The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies. More information & registration: https://lnkd.in/e8vnP9ex

🛰️ What has Ukraine taught us about the future of space and defence? At SmallSat Europe 2026 last week, HCSS Director of Research Dr T. (Tim) Sweijs joined a panel discussion on the lessons emerging from four years of war in Ukraine and what they mean for Europe's future space posture. The session was moderated by Ruchi Nema (Co-Founder and CEO, Space Exchange Global) and featured contributions from Khrystyna Holynska (RAND) and Lina Pohl (European Space Policy Institute (ESPI)). 📡 The discussion explored how commercial space capabilities have become essential to modern warfare, from communications and intelligence gathering to battlefield awareness and resilience. At the same time, the conflict has exposed the risks of overreliance on a limited number of providers and platforms. Drawing on research for the HCSS 'On Future War' programme, Tim argued that the debate has shifted from "dual-use" technology to technological sovereignty. As he noted: "Dependency kills." ⚠️ As Europe invests in new space capabilities, key questions remain: What does sovereignty in space actually mean? How can governments balance commercial innovation with strategic autonomy? And how should allies prepare for an increasingly contested space domain, including closer cooperation between Russia and China? 🔗 Rewatch the panel discussion here: https://lnkd.in/e5B_ZaFX

Helder pleidooi door Alisha Müller vandaag bij BNR Nieuwsradio: De Nederlandse raffinaderijen zijn essentieel voor onze veiligheid en economie. https://lnkd.in/eSE2QN8h #DeIndustrieMaaktHetHier #Leveringszekerheid #StrategischeAutonomie

🔐 As cyber threats continue to grow in scale and sophistication, one part of the cybersecurity ecosystem remains critically overlooked: non-profit cybersecurity organisations. A new HCSS report by Hans H., Ron Stoop and Jan Feldhusen, shows that these organisations are not supplementary actors, but foundational pillars of global cyber resilience. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ecBdrfwJ The report finds that non-profit cybersecurity organisations help close critical gaps left by both governments and the commercial market. They support threat intelligence sharing, incident response coordination, cybersecurity standards, digital safety for vulnerable communities, and capacity-building for organisations that otherwise lack access to adequate protection. 📊 The study also highlights a widening resilience gap between large organisations and SMEs, driven by rising costs and a persistent cybersecurity talent shortage. Using conservative counterfactual estimates, the report concludes that replacing non-profit cybersecurity services with commercial alternatives could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, while the harms they help prevent amount to billions in avoided losses.  “Non-profit cybersecurity organisations are highly effective providers of public-interest security that help sustain the safety and resilience of the global digital ecosystem,” notes lead author Hans H.. Co-author Ron Stoop adds: “Governments and industry must move beyond recognising the sector’s importance and start providing the long-term support needed to sustain it.” 🛡️ The report calls for dedicated public funding, stronger integration into national cyber strategies, and standing industry support mechanisms for the sector. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ecBdrfwJ Common Good Cyber

🕊️ What does it take to become a peace negotiator? In the latest episode of the Masterpeace podcast, peace mediator Antje Herrberg speaks with Sven Koopmans, Chair for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at HCSS and former EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process. Drawing on a career spanning law, academia, politics, diplomacy and international mediation, Koopmans discusses the realities of peacemaking, why many mediators are first-timers, and what we can learn from both successes and failures in conflict resolution. The conversation offers practical insights into the craft of peace mediation and the skills required to navigate complex conflicts in an increasingly turbulent world. 🔗 Listen here: https://lnkd.in/ewGwU6F2 #PeaceMediation #ConflictResolution #Diplomacy #Negotiation #HCSS #MasterpeacePodcast