The Expert Course on Digitalisation and Security Policy based on the recurring theme of integrated security. The course outlines and brings to life the effects of rapidly advancing digitalisation on society, especially from the standpoint of security policy.
Digitalisation is a megatrend. Experts agree that digitalisation will permanently affect virtually all areas of our lives, society and politics. Foto: Pixabay/Gerd Altmann (geralt)
About the course
The Expert Course on Digitalisation and Security Policy is conducted by the Federal Academy for Security Policy (BAKS) on behalf of the Federal Chancellery. Based on the recurring theme of integrated security, the course outlines and brings to life the effects of rapidly advancing digitalisation on society, especially from the standpoint of security policy. The course is a key pillar of the continuing education opportunities offered by the Academy. During the course, the 16 participants will experience:
- talks with high-ranking representatives from the federal government, business and academia, as well as experts from government agencies, institutes and organisations
- numerous discussion sessions with high-profile guests and field trips both in Berlin and during the visit to Denmark
- access to an exclusive network of actors from the world of national and international security policy
Invitations to nominate course participants are issued by the President of the Federal Academy for Security Policy.
Dates and Target Group
Dr. Mark Nuyken
mark.nuyken@baks.bund.de
Tel. +49 (0) 30 4004 6314
Hans-Christian Winkler
christian.winkler@baks.bund.de
Tel. +49 (0) 30 4004 6335
The Expert Course on Digitalisation and Security Policy will be held in person from 1 to 12 June 2026. The course will take place in Berlin and in Copenhagen, Denmark. German is the course language, with English also being used during the trip to Denmark.
The course is aimed at experienced senior officials and outstanding junior executives from the German federal and state ministries, business, academia and politics, and from groups within civil society that are involved in strategic security-policy issues related to digitalisation, such as churches, trade unions, NGOs and media outlets.
Schedule
The Expert Course lasts 12 days and is divided into two phases:
Introduction
Initially, the participants will familiarise themselves in detail with the challenges and opportunities posed by the dynamic progress of digitalisation in society. In particular, they will talk to national and international experts from politics, academia and society about the effects of digitalisation from a security-policy and strategic standpoint. These discussions will be complemented by field trips in Berlin.
On-site experience
Denmark is leading the way for digital societies in Europe. It is making considerable progress with digitalisation in a number of areas such as governance, artificial intelligence, advanced data analytics and fintech. Essentially, Denmark is striving to guarantee the credibility and trust needed to protect information and instil confidence within users. During the trip to Copenhagen, the participants will become acquainted with the complexity of these societal developments and discuss the implications of digitalisation for security policy in Germany and the EU.
Destination: Copenhagen – an often-underestimated European centre of technological progress and digital resilience.Foto: Pixabay/Margit Wallner (wallner)
Main topic Digitalisation is a trend
Digitalisation is not just a trend, it is a megatrend. In today’s society, few other topics are as hotly discussed as the rise in digitalisation. It is an issue we are confronted with every day. Our own homes are becoming “smart”, whole houses are coming out of 3D printers, and cash might soon be a thing of the past. Experts agree that digitalisation will permanently affect virtually all areas of our lives, society and politics. The processes of change have become even more dynamic during times of crisis and will have a lasting effect on the training and professional development of specialists and senior executives in administration, business and society.
Digitalisation has implications for business and society. Digitalisation affects security.
Cyberattacks on government agencies, attacks on the electronics and IT of critical infrastructures, artificial intelligence in weapon systems, face recognition and the General Data Protection Regulation – digitalisation permeates all areas of security in our society and has long since taken on a key role in the strategic focus of security policy. Against this backdrop, the issues covered in this course will range from the basic ethical and moral principles of digitalisation to the changes it brings about in the security policy framework. In addition to general topics, digitalisation, democracy and the Digital Agenda will be discussed in detail. Key actors in the digital world will be factored into specific security-policy considerations, with particular focus on artificial intelligence, critical infrastructures, cyberspace, cybersecurity and domestic security.