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North Star Forum 2026

September 3, 2026, Władysławowo, Poland

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Organizer Nordic Institute

North Star Forum Where Sound Decisions Begin

The Baltic Sea region is no longer merely an area of regional cooperation. Today, it stands as one of the key pillars of European security, where political, economic, and strategic interests of Northern European states intersect. Following the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, the Baltic Sea has effectively become a central theatre of Europe’s security architecture, encompassing not only military considerations but also the protection of critical infrastructure, maritime and energy security, and the resilience of states and societies.

In this context, regional cooperation frameworks such as the Council of the Baltic Sea States gain particular importance. The Council operates on a rotating presidency among its member states, allowing each country to shape the regional agenda in turn. Poland actively participates in this process, contributing to the development of cooperation priorities and the strengthening of regional resilience. Within this setting, Władysławowo – located on the Baltic coast, at the intersection of key transport routes and strategic interests – provides a natural venue for high-level debate on the future of Northern Europe.

The North Star Forum in Władysławowo is an expert forum dedicated to security, politics, and the economy of the Baltic Sea region. The event, organized by the Instytut Nordycki, creates a platform for in-depth analysis and substantive debate on the key challenges facing the region.

The Forum brings together analysts, experts, representatives of public institutions, and the business community, all working jointly to better understand geopolitical processes, economic transformation, and evolving security dynamics.

The starting point of the North Star Forum is the belief that sound decisions are built on rigorous analysis and a deep understanding of reality. In this context, the Baltic Sea region is seen not only as a distinct area of cooperation, but also as a space profoundly shaped by broader international conditions and global political and economic processes.

Accordingly, the Forum focuses on both regional dynamics and external imperatives shaping the security and development environment. A key emphasis is placed on the exchange of knowledge, the confrontation of perspectives, and the formulation of practical recommendations that can support decision-making processes.

The North Star Forum is a space for dialogue, where knowledge meets experience and reflection is translated into concrete recommendations.

The strength and accuracy of decisions depend on the quality of advice.

Key Features of North Star Forum

North Star Forum 2026

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Event program

September 3, 2026, Władysławowo, Poland

08:30 – 09:00 Registration

09:00 – 09:30 Welcome Address

  • Roman Kużel (Mayor of Władysławowo)
  • Dr. Wojciech Lieder (Nordic Institute)

Panel 1

09:30 – 11:00 Clean Sea, Safe Land: Redressing Threat Asymmetries in the Baltic Sea Region

The inauguration of North Star Forum 2026. Connecting the maritime and land domains to map asymmetric hybrid threats across the Baltic Sea basin. From protecting undersea cabling and offshore energy (Secure Sustainability), to mitigating “shadow fleet” sabotage, to transforming Baltic ports into a resilient, impenetrable NATO logistical hub.

Moderator: Dr. Wojciech Lieder (Nordic Institute)

Panelists:

  • Lea Berriault (Head of Strategic Advisory at GIS Liechtenstein; Geostrategic Risk Expert)
  • Dr. Julian Pawlak (SWP Berlin, NATO Defense College; Maritime Strategy and Northern Flank Expert)
  • Rüdiger Strempel (Executive Secretary of HELCOM; International Lawyer, Baltic Protection Expert)
  • Lucian Bumeder (IFSH Hamburg; Coordinator of the Young Deep Cuts Commission, former Defense Committee Advisor at the Bundestag)

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break & Networking

Panel 2

11:30 – 13:00 Digital Wall and Maritime Horizon: AI in Strategic Border Protection

Building a qualitative edge over the adversary’s quantitative force. Strategic integration of AI, autonomous drone swarms, and data fusion into an impenetrable “Digital Wall.” The critical intersection of DefenseTech, BigTech, and Venture Capital—breaking procurement barriers and scaling dual-use solutions.

Moderator: Dr. Andrzej Kozłowski (University of Łódź)

Panelists:

  • Cdr (Ret.) Jukka Savolainen (Director at Hybrid CoE Helsinki; former Commander of the Finnish Border Guard, former Head of Mission at EUPOL)
  • Ruben Stewart (Senior Fellow at IISS London; former NZDF Infantry Officer, Battlefield AI and Tactics Expert)
  • Dr. Niklas Swanström (Director of ISDP Stockholm, Johns Hopkins SAIS; Supply Chain Sovereignty and Cyber Warfare Expert)
  • John Strand (CEO of Strand Consult; 5G/6G Digital Infrastructure & Chinese Vendor Risk Expert)

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch & Networking

14:00 – 14:30 Special Presentation: Port Poland

Panel 3

14:30 – 17:00 The Baltic Consensus & Strategic Initiative: Hard Architecture and Proactive Defence

The most comprehensive debate of the North Star Forum 2026. We bridge the worlds of hard geopolitics, military doctrines, and big business. We cover the entire trajectory: from building economic resilience, through securing supply chains and critical infrastructure, to technological proactivity and active deterrence of the enemy in cyberspace.

Moderators:
  • Dr. Wojciech Lieder (Nordic Institute)
  • prof. Ryszard Machnikowski (Dean of WSMiP UL, Director of CAiPS UL)

Panelists:

  • Jan Rafael Lupoměský (CEO of LupoKorn Advisory, Senior Fellow at Warsaw Institute; former Advisor to the President of the Czech Republic)
  • prof. Ulrich Schneckener (University of Osnabrück, Chairman of the German Foundation for Peace Research; EU security expert)
  • Kamil Sobczyk (Head of the Analysis Department – Western Desk, National Security Bureau)
  • Paweł Burek (Director of the Security Bureau, ORLEN Lietuva)
  • prof. Timo Hellenberg (CEO of Hellenberg International; former Advisor to the Prime Minister of Finland, critical infrastructure protection expert)
  • col. (ret.) Vaidotas Malinionis (Director of the Lithuanian Defence and Security Industry Association; former Commander in EUBG)
  • Michael Malm (Swedish Armed Forces Headquarters; architect of the Swedish Total Defence model)

17:00 Closing Remarks

Download the detailed program

Participants

Kamil Sobczyk is Head of the Western Analysis Division at Poland’s National Security Bureau (BBN). He has been engaged in security and defence policy since 2012. For the past four years, he has led a team of experts within the National Security Bureau, focusing on NATO’s deterrence and defence posture as well as Poland–United States security cooperation. His areas of expertise include Euro-Atlantic security, transatlantic relations, and strategic challenges facing Poland and the NATO Alliance.

Kamil Sobczyk

Lucian Bumeder is a researcher in the Arms Control and Emerging Technologies Research group. Since April 2023, he has been part of the Challenges to Deep Cuts project, where he coordinates the Young Deep Cuts Commission. Prior to joining IFSH, he worked as a policy aide in the office of Merle Spellerberg, who serves on the Defense Committee of the German Bundestag, and collaborated with the transnational journalist network n-ost. Lucian studied Political Science (B.A.) and International Relations (M.A.) at Freie Universität Berlin and the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), with an academic stay at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Lucian Bumeder

Lea Berriault – Head of Advisory Services at Geopolitical Intelligence Services (GIS), a premier forecasting and analysis firm founded by H.S.H. Prince Michael of Liechtenstein, where she leads geostrategic advisory projects. She holds a master’s degree in International Relations from Collegium Civitas in Warsaw, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Russian studies from Carleton University in her native Ottawa. She previously worked in strategic communications and diplomacy, including with the Google Digital News Initiative and the British Embassy in Warsaw.

Lea Berriault

Rüdiger Strempel has served as the Executive Secretary of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) since 2019, bringing a background as an international lawyer specialized in global marine conservation policy. Throughout his extensive diplomatic career, he has headed the secretariats of UNEP/ASCOBANS and the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS), and has consulted for various UN agencies, including the UNFCCC. He holds deep, long-standing ties to the Baltic region, having chaired the ASCOBANS Baltic Sea Steering Group ("Jastarnia Group") from 2009 to 2017, and previously served on the Advisory Board of the Baltic Centre of Excellence at the University of Gdańsk. Additionally, he brings a rich background as a journalist and professional expert in strategic communications.

Rüdiger Strempel

Dr. Andrzej Kozłowski is an expert in cybersecurity and disinformation. He serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Lodz and as a Threat & Intelligence Specialist at NaviRisk. Previously, he led the Narrative Trends Analysis and Fact-Checking Team at NASK, where he focused on information operations and countering manipulation in the digital environment. He holds a PhD in Political Science, is the author of numerous publications, and has participated in prestigious international professional programs, including the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and Fulbright Journalistic Challenges and Practices. His research interests focus on cybersecurity, disinformation, and information threats.

Dr Andrzej Kozłowski

Ruben Stewart is a Senior Fellow for Land Warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), where he leads research on modern conflicts, military tactics, and army transformation. He combines strategic analysis with extensive operational experience as a former infantry officer in the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), including a UN mission in East Timor. He also gained expertise within the ICRC and OCHA (UN), managing military-humanitarian relations in conflict zones across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. In his research, he specializes in military operations and the impact of emerging technologies - including AI and unmanned systems - on battlefield effectiveness.

Ruben Stewart

Captain (Naval, Ret.) Jukka Savolainen is Director of the Community of Interest on Vulnerabilities and Resilience at Hybrid CoE. He previously served as Commander of the West Finland Coast Guard District (2012–2017) and Head of the EU Police Mission in Afghanistan (2010–2012). Between 2002 and 2006, he worked in Brussels as a border security counsellor at the Finnish Permanent Representation to the EU and as a national expert at the Council’s DG HOME, contributing to the development of Integrated Border Management and risk analysis concepts for border security. His current work focuses on hybrid threats and the resilience of critical systems in Western societies.

Jukka Savolainen

Jan Rafael Lupoměský is a Czech political analyst and political risk consultant specializing in Central Europe and the Three Seas Initiative. He has advised the President of the Czech Republic, the Minister of Defence, national and European parliamentarians, and served as a senior legislative analyst for the Union of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. He currently advises foreign investors and institutions through LupoKorn Advisory. A frequent media commentator, he provides expert analysis on politics, security, and international affairs and regularly speaks at conferences on regional cooperation and geopolitics. He is also affiliated with the Warsaw Institute, focusing on Central European affairs and regional integration.

Jan Rafael Lupoměský

Konrad Muzyka is the founder and director of Rochan Consulting, an OSINT firm focused on military assessments of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. His work specializes in force structure analysis, military capabilities, and strategic warning, making him a leading expert on Eastern European security since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He advises international organizations, consultancies, and think tanks. A graduate of the University of Hull (War and Security Studies) and University College London (Russian Studies), he is also a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. His analysis is frequently cited by major international media and policy institutions.

Konrad Muzyka

Thomas Becker is Managing Director of STRING, one of Northern Europe’s largest cross-border regional cooperation networks, bringing together cities and regions across four countries and representing around 14 million people. He specializes in climate policy, energy transition, infrastructure development, and regional integration. Previously, he served in senior positions within the Danish government, including Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Climate and Energy and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. His expertise focuses on green transition, cross-border cooperation, and long-term strategic development.

Thomas Becker

John Strand is CEO and founder of Strand Consult (since 1995), one of the leading telecom and digital policy analysis firms. He specializes in mobile markets, regulation, and digital transformation, and is known for early assessments of 3G, MVNOs, the iPhone, WiMAX, and OpenRAN. His work combines technical expertise with regulatory and geopolitical analysis, focusing on EU telecom policy, infrastructure economics, network security, and risks linked to Chinese vendors and supply chains. He advises governments, regulators, and multinational companies.

John Strand

Prof. Ryszard M. Machnikowski is Dean of the Faculty of International and Political Studies at the University of Łódź. Since 2022, he has headed the Centre for Strategic Analysis and Forecasting at the Faculty, and since 2023 he has also been the Head of the Department of Foreign Policy and Security Theory. He is an expert for the National Science Centre (Poland) and serves in advisory capacities for the Conseil Supérieur de la Formation et de la Recherche Stratégique and the Equipe Sécurité Défense at CNAM in Paris. He is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Master’s programme in Criminology at CNAM and has previously collaborated on the Countering Lone Actor Terrorism project at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue in London.

Prof. Ryszard Machnikowski

Timo Hellenberg is the CEO of Hellenberg International Ltd. and a globally recognized security expert. He has served as Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Finland on EU affairs and has advised several government agencies across Europe, the United States, Russia, and Southeast Asia. For over twenty years, he has published and worked as an expert in international relations and political science, and has been affiliated with the University of Helsinki and the University of Tampere.

Prof. Timo Hellenberg

Col. (Ret.) Vaidotas Malinionis - Director, National Defence Foundation; Director, Association of Colonels, as well as Managing Director of the Lithuanian Defence and Security Industry Association. He has played a key role in shaping the Lithuanian and Baltic defence industry, leading initiatives such as MILEX, MAPEX, and operational-level wargaming exercises. His leadership experience includes significant involvement in the European Battle Group (EUBG), reflecting his long-standing commitment to national and regional security.

Col. (Ret.) Vaidotas Malinionis

Michael Malm is a Senior Defence Adviser in the Defence Staff of the Swedish Armed Forces, within the Directorate of Strategic Plans and Policy. He has extensive experience across the armed forces, the defence research community, and the private sector.

Michael Malm

Dr. Niklas Swanström, Director and co-founder of the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP), is a security expert and Fellow at the Johns Hopkins SAIS Foreign Policy Institute, as well as Senior Associate Research Fellow at Italian Institute for International Political Studies. His expertise includes supply chain security, cyber warfare, disinformation, Chinese foreign policy, Northeast Asian security, and the Belt and Road Initiative. He studies traditional and non-traditional threats, their impact on stability, and conflict management. He has authored numerous publications on Eurasian geopolitics, China–Japan relations, and international security. He holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Research from Uppsala University.

Dr Niklas Swanström

Ulrich Schneckener is a Professor of International Relations and Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Osnabrück in Germany. He also serves as Chair of the Board of the German Foundation for Peace Research. He is an expert in EU security, enlargement policy, and neighbourhood policy. His current research focuses on the broader international and security implications of Russia’s war of aggression, with a particular regional interest in Ukraine, Moldova, Poland, and Romania.

Prof. Ulrich Schneckener

Dr. Julian Pawlak is a researcher at the International Security Division of German Institute for International and Security Affairs and a NextGen Associate Fellow at the NATO Defence College. His expertise covers security and defense policy, maritime strategy, and strategic studies, with a focus on NATO’s northern flank, the Baltic Sea region, and Northern and Eastern Europe. Previously affiliated with Helmut Schmidt University, GIDS, and Kiel University, he has authored numerous publications and frequently contributes analysis to leading international media, including The New York Times, Foreign Policy, El País, SPIEGEL, and WIRED.

Dr Julian Pawlak

Dr Wojciech Lieder – Founder, initiator, and President of the Nordic Institute Foundation. For the past 20 years, he has been conducting research on the Nordic region, combining academic expertise with practical experience. He studied at the University of Łódź, Malmö University, Stockholm University, and the University of Southern Denmark in Odense, and gained professional experience at institutions such as State Street Bank, PwC, and Amazon. Doctor of Social Sciences.

Dr Wojciech Lieder

Organizer

Strategic partner

The project was co-financed by the Władysławowo Commune

Honorary Patronage

Associated Partners

Hellenberg
svenskpolska

September 3, 2026

Władysławowo, Polska

kontakt@instytutnordycki.com

Useful information

By Car:
From Germany – the new, scenic Kaszuby Route (expressway S6) awaits you.

By Ferry:

  • To Świnoujście from Ystad, Trelleborg, or Malmö (POLSCA, FINNLINES), then join your friends from Germany on the S6.
  • To Gdynia from Karlskrona (Stena Line) or to Gdańsk from Nynäshamn (POLSCA).
    In every case, the scenic Route 216 will welcome you just before Władysławowo.

By Plane:
Gdańsk Airport – Lech Wałęsa Airport – the very essence of freedom. From there, you can reach Władysławowo by public transport (tickets on koleo.pl) or by Uber/Bolt.

By Bike:
For an even bigger adventure, two international cycling routes await: EuroVelo 10 (Baltic Sea Cycle Route) and EuroVelo 13 (Iron Curtain Trail).

The North Star Forum logo represents the unity of ten countries across the Baltic Sea and Northern region, grounded in shared values and solidarity in the face of emerging threats. Its central element is a wave composed of ten lines – each representing a country and its contribution to a common structure. Its clear eastward direction reflects vigilance and readiness to act, while the contour itself draws from geography, echoing the coastline of Northern Pomerania and the Hel Peninsula.

At the crest of the wave stands the North Star – a traditional symbol of orientation and direction. Its center points to the Municipality of Władysławowo, the northernmost municipality in Poland. This is no coincidence. It is a deliberate indication of Poland as a space open to the North – an invitation to cooperation and deeper regional ties across the Baltic Sea area.

The strength of this cooperation is expressed through a ring of ten concepts in national languages. Each of them is not a slogan, but a reflection of experience and a distinct way of operating.

Poland stands for NIEZŁOMNOŚĆ – resilience in defending principles under pressure. Estonia brings NUTIKUS, a practical intelligence and the ability to adapt quickly. Sweden represents SAMVERKAN – a model of cooperation between institutions and society that translates into real state capacity. Latvia’s IZAUGSME reflects growth driven by consistency and the effective use of limited resources. Iceland’s SAMVINNA stands for solidarity that, in smaller communities, becomes a real mechanism of shared responsibility. Germany’s GRÜNDLICHKEIT contributes discipline and operational precision. Finland’s SISU represents mental resilience and the ability to act under difficult conditions. Norway’s BÆREKRAFT reflects long-term thinking and balance between development and responsibility. Lithuania’s DARNA emphasizes coherence and harmony in decision-making, while Denmark’s FÆLLESSKAB completes the picture as a deeply rooted sense of community and shared responsibility.

Together, they form a system of values that is not declarative, but a practical foundation for cooperation and for strengthening security across the region.

Partners & Sponsors

Nordic Institute
Nordic Institute
Nordic Institute

If your organization is interested in cooperation, please contact us at kontakt@instytutnordycki.com

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