Sweden’s research sector spans universities, national laboratories, and applied research institutes that operate at the intersection of academia, industry, and government. These environments handle sensitive intellectual property, personal data, and nationally significant research infrastructure while remaining open, collaborative, and internationally connected. Cybersecurity leaders in this space must balance openness with protection, regulatory compliance with academic freedom, and long-term research missions with evolving digital threats.
Andreas Aurelius — Director of Cyber Security, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Andreas Aurelius is an experienced leader in cybersecurity within research and innovation-driven environments. At RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, he brings a strong background in digital technologies, transformation, and organizational leadership, with responsibility spanning people, budgets, and operations. His leadership style emphasizes accountability, responsiveness, and change management, with particular interests in research and innovation, digital transformation, and gender equality within technology-led organizations.
Fredrik Bolinder — Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Stockholm University
Fredrik Bolinder serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Stockholm University, where he leads information security in a complex academic and research environment. His background includes cybersecurity auditing at a national authority, senior IT operations and security leadership in an international defense organization, and earlier experience as an Information System Security Officer in the United States. This combination of regulatory, operational, and technical experience informs his approach to securing large-scale academic institutions.
Niklas Nikitin — Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Karlstad University
Niklas Nikitin works as Chief Information Security Officer and Deputy Data Protection Officer at Karlstad University, focusing on protecting information assets and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations. His role includes developing security policies, conducting risk assessments, and collaborating across the organization to strengthen security posture. He also supports GDPR compliance through advisory work, privacy impact assessments, and stakeholder engagement, while actively promoting a security-aware culture across the university.
Anders Qvist — Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Chalmers University of Technology
Anders Qvist holds overall responsibility for IT and information security at Chalmers University of Technology. After several years working with information security coordination, he stepped into the CISO role to lead a more holistic and strategic security function. His experience spans information security operations, risk assessment, project management, and IT support, enabling him to address both technical and organizational security challenges within a leading technical university.
Mikael Nitz — Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Studsvik
Mikael Nitz has an academic background in cultural geography, sociology, and political science, with a focus on societal planning. Working in information security leadership, he brings a governance-oriented perspective shaped by public-sector environments and regulatory considerations. His experience reflects the interdisciplinary nature of cybersecurity within research and societal institutions, where information protection intersects with policy, planning, and organizational responsibility.
Securing Sweden’s Research and Knowledge Infrastructure
Research organizations face cybersecurity challenges that differ fundamentally from those in purely commercial sectors. Open collaboration models, international partnerships, long research lifecycles, and sensitive intellectual assets require security leaders who understand both academic culture and modern threat landscapes. The CISOs and security leaders highlighted here play a critical role in safeguarding Sweden’s research capabilities while enabling innovation, trust, and long-term scientific advancement.