CENTREPEACE Matchmaking Event: Exploring Cognitive Warfare and AI in Helsinki

On May 26–27, 2025, CENTREPEACE organized a matchmaking event dedicated to the themes of cognitive warfare and the use of artificial intelligence in research on security and influence operations. The event was hosted by the Aleksanteri Institute at the University of Helsinki, and brought together researchers and experts from a wide range of institutions.

Participants included CENTREPEACE team members from the University of Helsinki, Masaryk University, and the Peace Research Institute Oslo, alongside representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office of Finland, National Defence University, Finnish Defence Research Agency, Laurea University of Applied Sciences, OSCE, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, and the University of Jyväskylä.

The event was opened by Assoc. Prof. Katri Pynnöniemi (University of Helsinki), Prof. Vladimir Gel’man (University of Helsinki and head of the Aleksanteri Institute), and Asst. Prof. Zinaida Bechná (Masaryk University, principal investigator of CENTREPEACE). Katri Pynnöniemi welcomed participants, introduced the goals of the event – namely identifying potential synergies for future cooperation – and presented the event agenda. Vladimir Gel’man followed with an introduction to the University of Helsinki and the Aleksanteri Institute. Zinaida Bechná then introduced the CENTREPEACE project, its vision, and its core research goals.

The first session of the matchmaking featured presentations by researchers from external institutions. Among the highlights was the KILPI project, aimed at strengthening research and education in cognitive security in Finland, fostering national expertise, and supporting knowledge exchange. Other presentations explored topics such as psychological mechanisms in information influence operations, and Finnish perspectives on cognitive security.

The CENTREPEACE cognitive warfare group from Masaryk University shared their ongoing research and theoretical perspectives on conceptualising cognitive warfare, including ideas for future projects and joint initiatives within and beyond the CENTREPEACE framework.

In the afternoon session, participants heard from additional researchers outside the project consortium, with topics including the Faktabaari project (focused on fact-checking and digital information literacy) and the use of AI in cognitive warfare research.

The day concluded with matchmaking group discussions, where participants formed smaller breakout groups to explore shared interests, complementary expertise, and emerging research questions that could serve as the basis for future collaboration.

The second day opened once again with Katri Pynnöniemi welcoming participants and outlining the day’s schedule. The morning was dedicated to a workshop on AI/LLM-powered analysis, where the RuBase project demonstrated how large language models can be used to work with vast data sources, build taxonomies, and generate structured research outputs.

The event concluded with a visit to the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE). CENTREPEACE teams from PRIO, the University of Helsinki, and Masaryk University met with the CoE's research director and team members to exchange research interests. The session included presentations of the Hybrid CoE’s CORE model and ongoing hybrid threat research by the Masaryk University team.

This matchmaking event successfully fostered cross-border networking and laid the groundwork for future collaboration, strengthening CENTREPEACE’s mission to build research excellence across Europe in the fields of peace, conflict, and security studies.