--- title: "IRSPM 2027 Conference – Trondheim, Norway — Trondheim" description: "IRSPM 2027 Conference – Trondheim, Norway is a professional conference in Trondheim, Norway, Apr 28–30, 2027. Dates, deadlines, fees, and prep links." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/conferences/professional/irspm-2027-conference-trondheim-norway-2027" --- # IRSPM 2027 Conference – Trondheim, Norway Apr 28–30, 2027[Trondheim, Norway](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1\&query=Trondheim%2C%20Norway)In-person [Registration open](https://www.irspm.org/conferences/conference-2027) The IRSPM 2027 Conference, hosted in Trondheim, Norway, serves as a significant international forum for scholars and practitioners in public management. This event brings together diverse perspectives on contemporary challenges and innovations within the public sector, fostering dialogue and collaboration across national boundaries. Participants will engage with cutting-edge research and practical insights, contributing to the global discourse on effective governance and public service delivery. ## Committees & topics - Topics Polycrisis, Wicked Problems and Grand Challenges: Public Administrations in Search of Safety and Security ## Why it matters This conference is crucial for advancing the understanding and practice of public management in an increasingly complex global environment. It provides a platform for examining how public institutions adapt to societal changes, technological advancements, and evolving citizen expectations. By convening experts from various countries, the conference facilitates the exchange of ideas and the development of comparative analyses, which are essential for identifying best practices and addressing common challenges. The discussions at the IRSPM conference often highlight the intricate relationships between policy formulation, implementation, and public outcomes. Understanding these dynamics is vital for policymakers and public administrators seeking to improve governmental effectiveness and accountability. The insights generated here can inform strategic planning and operational improvements in public services worldwide, making it a key event for those committed to enhancing public sector performance. ## How to prepare Delegates preparing for the IRSPM 2027 Conference should focus on developing a robust understanding of current trends in public management, particularly those related to governance, innovation, and stakeholder engagement. Reviewing recent publications in leading public administration journals will be beneficial. Consider how your research or professional experiences align with the broader themes of public sector reform and international collaboration. For those presenting, it is advisable to frame your work within a comparative context, considering how findings from one national or regional setting might resonate or differ in others. Engaging with concepts such as "[engagement strategies](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/engagement-strategies)" and "stakeholder mapping workshop" can help refine your approach to presenting research that has practical implications for diverse public sector environments. Reflect on the "dynamic analysis" of public policies and their impact, preparing to discuss both theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence. ## Country perspectives Where the most-relevant 3 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile. [Norway](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/norway) [As the host nation, Norway offers a valuable case study for public management, particularly in areas of public trust, welfare state models, and digital governance.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/norway) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/norway) [Norway's advanced public sector, characterized by high levels of transparency and citizen participation, provides a practical backdrop for discussions on effective public administration. Its experiences with resource management and sustainable development can offer insights into balancing economic growth with social and environmental responsibilities. The conference in Trondheim allows for direct engagement with Norwegian public management practices and scholarship.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/norway) [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [The United Kingdom's public sector reforms and ongoing debates about public service delivery provide a rich comparative perspective.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [The United Kingdom has a long history of public sector innovation and reform, often serving as a reference point for discussions on privatization, public-private partnerships, and the challenges of austerity. Its experiences with diverse governance models and efforts to enhance public accountability offer critical insights for comparative public management studies.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [The United States contributes perspectives on federalism, public policy implementation in a large diverse nation, and the role of non-profit organizations in public service.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [The United States' federal system and its complex interplay of state and national governance provide unique challenges and opportunities in public management. Discussions often revolve around policy implementation across diverse jurisdictions, the impact of political polarization on public services, and the significant role of non-governmental actors in service delivery. Its experiences with regulatory frameworks and public accountability mechanisms are also key areas of interest.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) ## Topics & background The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it. 1 ### Polycrisis, Wicked Problems and Grand Challenges: Public Administrations in Search of Safety and Security The concept of 'polycrisis' — popularized by historian Adam Tooze and adopted by the World Economic Forum in its 2023 Global Risks Report — describes the simultaneous, interacting shocks that have defined the 2020s: the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing energy and food crises, accelerating climate disasters, inflation, mass displacement, and the destabilizing effects of generative AI and disinformation. These compound crises have exposed the limits of traditional public administration, which was largely designed for discrete, predictable problems within sectoral silos. The parallel literatures on 'wicked problems' (Rittel and Webber, 1973) and 'grand challenges' (echoed in the EU's Horizon Europe missions and the UN's 2030 Agenda) have re-emerged as frames for understanding why issues such as climate adaptation, pandemic preparedness, and AI governance defy conventional bureaucratic problem-solving. For public management scholars and practitioners — the core audience of IRSPM — the question is how states can deliver safety and security when threats are transboundary, cascading, and contested. Post-2020 reforms have emphasized anticipatory governance, whole-of-government coordination, resilience planning, and the integration of behavioral and data science into crisis response. The EU's Strategic Foresight Reports, the OECD's work on anticipatory innovation, NATO's resilience commitments under Article 3, and Nordic 'total defence' doctrines (notably Sweden's and Norway's revived civil preparedness frameworks) all illustrate attempts to rewire public administration for permanent turbulence. Yet these efforts confront persistent obstacles: fiscal constraints after pandemic-era spending, democratic backsliding, declining trust in institutions, and the politicization of expertise. The debate today centers on what 'safety and security' should mean in an era when civil protection, defence, climate, public health, and digital infrastructure converge. Trondheim is a fitting venue: Norway has been a leading laboratory for integrating societal security (samfunnssikkerhet) into public administration since the 2011 Utøya attacks and the 2016 Total Defence concept revival, and it sits at the intersection of NATO's northern flank, Arctic governance, and energy security. Delegates will weigh how administrative systems can balance preparedness with civil liberties, central coordination with local agility, and national security with international cooperation. Key players - [Norway](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/norway) [Host state; pioneer of 'societal security' and Total Defence integrating civil and military preparedness.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/norway) - [Sweden](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/sweden) [Nordic model of civil contingencies (MSB) and recent NATO accession reshaping resilience policy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/sweden) - [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Major EU actor driving Zeitenwende reforms linking defence, energy, and critical infrastructure protection.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Home of the UK Resilience Framework (2022) and influential public management reform tradition.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Leading research base on wicked problems and homeland security; FEMA and CISA models of cross-sector resilience.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [Netherlands](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) [Influential in anticipatory governance, foresight, and integrated safety regions methodology.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) ## Resources News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for IRSPM 2027 Conference – Trondheim, Norway. Recent reporting to ground your prep [Trump's Legal Battles Impact 2026 Elections](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-legal-battles-and-political-influence-shape-2026-elections) [Trump's Economic Reset](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-economic-reset-aiming-to-tackle-high-gas-prices) [GOP Conservative Factions Clash Over Trump](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/gops-conservative-factions-clash-amid-trumps-influence) [Trump's Polling Decline Impacts 2026 Midterms](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-polling-decline-alters-2026-midterm-landscape) Lessons Bite-sized lessons to build the basics [Hidden Stakeholders](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/hidden-stakeholders) [Engagement Strategies](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/engagement-strategies) [Dynamic Analysis](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/dynamic-analysis) [Stakeholder Mapping Workshop](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/stakeholder-workshop) Courses Guided courses that go deeper on the topic [Advanced Negotiation](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/advanced-negotiation) [Multilateral Negotiation](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/multilateral-negotiation) [Policy Brief Writing](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/policy-brief) [Conflict Resolution](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/conflict-resolution) The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance [Norway](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/norway) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/norway) [Sweden](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/sweden) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/sweden) [Germany](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/germany) [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Netherlands](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/netherlands) ## Frequently asked questions - - - Free account Save conferences, research any topic with AI, build position papers, and keep your daily prep streak — free. 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