University for Continuing Education - Audimax
Save the Date
The team at the Department for Security Studies cordially invites you to attend the 1st Austrian Expert’s Conference "European Counter-Terrorism" on Tuesday, June 2, 206 and Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Please save the date.
We look forward to seeing you there,
Walter Seböck, Nicolas Stockhammer & Ingeborg Zeller
”
„The 1st Austrian Experts’ Conference on European Counter-Terrorism brings together leading specialists from academia, policy, and practice to examine current developments, emerging challenges, and innovative strategies in counter-terrorism. The event serves as a platform for interdisciplinary exchange, the sharing of new perspectives, and networking among professionals engaged in security and terrorism research.“
Department for Security Studies
Program
The 1st Austrian High-Level Conference of Extremism and Terrorrism research brings together scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and representatives of civil society to exchange state of the art research, discuss current developments, and explore effective prevention and response strategies.
By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and international cooperation, the conference aims to deepen our understanding of extremist dynamics, terrorist TTPs and strengthen collective resilience against radicalization.
Through open discussion, shared expertise, and collaborative thinking, this conference seeks to contribute to sustainable solutions that support democratic values, social stability, and the protection of fundamental rights.
DRAFT PROGRAM
"The Changing Face of Transnational Terrorism: Challenges, Prevention, and Intelligence Responses”
Day 1 – Tuesday, June 2, 2026
08:30 – 09:15 | Registration and Welcome Coffee
09:15 – 09:50 | Opening Remarks
- Johanna MIKL-LEITNER (Governor of Lower Austria) tbc – Welcome Address
- Viktoria WEBER (Rector UWK) tbc – Welcome Univ.
- Walter SEBÖCK (UWK) – Welcome Dept. Sec. Studies
- Andreas SCHLEGEL (Austrian Federal Chancellery- KSB) – Introductory Address
09:50 – 10:00 | Introduction by the Organizer
- Nicolas STOCKHAMMER – Scope and Idea of the Conference Presentation of the overarching goals, structure, and intended outcomes of the conference,
outlining the interplay between counter-terrorism research and intelligence studies in addressing emerging threats.
10:00 – 10:45 | Keynote 1: “Evolving Terrorist Threats in a Changing Global Security Landscape. A Transatlantic Perspective"
- Colin P. CLARKE | Executive Director of The Soufan Center (NY, USA)
10:45 – 11:30 | Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:00 | Panel A – "The European Terrorist Threatscape"Current dynamics in transnational jihadism, far-right networks,
and the intersection of ideology, conflict, and technology.
Moderator: Nicolas STOCKHAMMER
Panelists: Terrorism Researchers (to be confirmed)
- Thomas RENARD | Director International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT), The Hague (tbc)
- Lucas WEBBER | Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst, Tech Against Terrorism
- Clara BROEKAERT | Research Analyst at The Soufan Center
- Guido STEINBERG | Stifung WIssenschaft und Politik, Berlin
13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch Break
14:15 – 15:45 | Panel B – “Counter-Terrorism and Hybrid Threats – The European Perspective
”Discussion focuses on hybrid warfare, the blurred lines between state and non- state actors, and integrated CT strategies.
Moderator: Col Ernst FELBERBAUER (Austrian National Defence Academy Vienna)
Panelists: CT / Hybrid Threats Experts (to be confirmed)
- Giray SADIK | Professor for International Relations at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University
- Kacper REKAWEK | Head of Defence and Security Programme at the GLOBSEC Policy Institute (tbc)
- Col Markus REISNER | Superintendent of the Institute for Officer's Training at Theresian Military Academy, Wr. Neustadt.
- Col Johann SCHMID | Expert on Hybrid Warfare, Zentrum für Militärgeschichte und Sozialwissenschaften der Bundeswehr (ZMSBw) Potsdam
15:45 – 16:15 | Coffee Break
16:15 – 17:00 | Keynote 2: “Countering Transnational Terrorist Networks in Europe: The 'Follow the Money'- Approach”
- Hans-Jakob SCHINDLER | Senior Director of the Counter Extremism Project.
17:15 | Closing of Day 1
18:30 | Networking Reception Dinner
Day 2 – Wednesday, June 3, 2026
09:00 – 09:30 | Morning Coffee and Networking
10:00 – 11:30 | Panel C – “Facets of Violent Extremism (VE) in Europe”
Exploring comparative extremist milieus and the adaptability of ideological narratives.
Moderator: Nico PRUCHA | Human Cognition Ltd.
Panelists: VE Experts (to be confirmed)
- Miroslav MAREŠ | Professor Extremism Studies, Masaryk University Brno – Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)
- Florian HARTLEB | Assoc. Professor Modul University, Vienna – Right-Wing Extremism (RWE)
- Alexander RITZMANN | Senior Advisor with the Counter Extremism Project Berlin (tbc) – Anti-Government Extremism (AGE)
- Lorenzo VIDINO | Director of the Program on Extremism at The George Washington
University – Islamism & Political Islam - Erik HACKER | Senior Researcher Scenor, Vienna – Jihadism
12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch Break
13:00 – 14:30 | Panel D – “Radicalization & Preventioon- European Approaches”
Focus on early prevention, community resilience, and best practices in deradicalization.
Moderator: Daniela PISOIU | OIIP Vienna
Panelists: Prevention and Radicalization Experts (to be confirmed)
- Jan BEYER | Director of Research, Institute for Strategic Dialogue
- Joana COOK | Assistant Professor of Terrorism and Political Violence, Leiden
University (tbc) - Nina KÄSEHAGE | Substitute Professor for Theology of Religions and Religious
Studies at Goethe University Frankfurt - Jean-Luc VANNIER | Professor at the Côte d'Azur University, Edhec and Ipag
Business School, Nice
14:30 – 15:00 | Coffee Break
15:00 – 16:30 | Panel E – “Intelligence in Counter-Terrorism. A European Perspective”
Insights on intelligence analysis, cross-agency cooperation, and emerging technological tools in CT.
Moderator: Florian M. LIEPOLD
Panelists: Intelligence Experts (to be confirmed)
- John ANGELL
- Adam HADLEY
- Daniele GAROFALO | Research Fellow, Jamestown Foundation (tbc)
16:30 – 17:30 | Closing Discussion
Topical Debate: “Islamism as a Strategic Threat for European Security”
Moderator: Thomas EPPINGER “Der Pragmaticus”
17:30 | End of Conference
Further details on the program will be added to this page on an ongoing basis and are subject to change.
”
„The 2026 Austrian Counter-Terrorism Conference in Krems marks a milestone by convening transatlantic experts for the first time to analyze Europe's dynamic terrorist threat landscape and shifting extremist dynamics.“
Dr. Nicolas Stockhammer
Department for Security Studies
Registration
Conference fees:
Participation is free of charge for cooperation partners, students, and graduates of the University for Continuing Education Krems. For all other participants, the fee is EUR 300 for both days.
funding partner and Sponsors
If you are interested in presenting your company or organization at the Expert Conference, please contact Dr. Nicolas Stockhammer. You will find her contact details below.
Further information
Notice
Please note that photographs and/or video recordings may be taken during this event for reporting and documentation purposes. These recordings may be published on our website, our social media channels, as well as in television reports and press coverage. If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed, please inform the photographer and/or the organizers on site so that appropriate arrangements can be made regarding the recording equipment.
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