On 8 September, researchers from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) participated in the 2025 World Emerging Security Forum (WESF), held in Seoul, South Korea. This year’s forum centred on the theme 'The Evolution of Hybrid Threats and International Security’, bringing together experts to explore critical issues such as cognitive warfare, the security implications of emerging technologies and the resilience of critical infrastructure.
To kick-off this year’s WESF, Karim Haggag, SIPRI Director, provided congratulatory remarks via video to the opening ceremony. Haggag emphasized the importance of the topics and SIPRI’s ongoing engagement with the forum. Dr Sibylle Bauer, SIPRI Director of Studies for Armament and Disarmament, moderated the session ‘Emerging Technologies and the Threat Landscape: Persistent Security Threats’, and Dr Michal Krelina, SIPRI Associate Senior Researcher, contributed as a panellist. Their participation brought SIPRI expertise on emerging military and security technologies—including quantum and AI-related risks—directly into the forum’s policy discussions.
About SIPRI’s work on emerging technologies
SIPRI’s research on emerging military and security technologies monitors key developments in science and technology. It explores how these developments could undermine or enhance peace and security, fuel and transform conflicts, and be dealt with through existing or new governance frameworks. The research aims to produce informative and evidence-based analysis and recommendations for policymakers and to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues involving experts from governments, the private sector, different regions and disciplines.
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