College Academic Award : summaries of the First Prize and the two Honourable Mentions.
Giacomo Leccese (LUISS Guido Carli University, Italy) for his essay: “The Sea’s Signature: Turning Oceanographic Data into Intelligence for Underwater Infrastructure Security”
SUMMARY: "The article examines how civilian oceanographic sensors can support intelligence collection for the protection of critical underwater infrastructure, focusing on three core challenges—detection, attribution, and intelligence sharing—identified by the academic literature as the main problems that hybrid threats pose to this activity. It adopts a counterfactual analysis to assess how the use of such sensors might have influenced intelligence collection in three attack scenarios: the weaponization of civilian vessels, interference by submerged vectors, and cyberattacks. Beyond addressing a pressing European security issue, the study contributes to the literature by exploring the role of Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT) in infrastructure protection and by focusing on the underexamined civilian dimension of this intelligence collection discipline."
Clara Grothe (University of Leiden) with her essay “Who is to blame for Germany’s shock? Assessing the role of the intelligence-policy nexus in the failure to predict the Russian invasion of Ukraine”
SUMMARY: “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 exposed Germany’s lack of preparedness and prompted major policy changes under the Zeitenwende. This essay examines how failures in the relationship between policymakers and the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) contributed to Germany’s inability to anticipate the invasion. Drawing on the performance criteria of Ikani et al. (2022), it argues that weaknesses in the intelligence-policy nexus, particularly policymakers’ limited responsiveness to intelligence assessments, undermined Germany’s ability to act on early warnings. The essay concludes by identifying lessons for strengthening intelligence-policy relations and preventing similar failures in the future.”
Anonymous student (University of the Bundeswehr, Munich) with his essay “Missing in (discursive) action - What exactly is a method in intelligence analysis and why is there a need for more precise definition?”
SUMMARY: “Despite vast amounts of literature about intelligence analysis methodology, there is no common comprehensive and precise definition of “method” in the field. By discussing the use of the term “method” in publicly available journal articles as well as authoritative monographs and anthologies, the essay develops the main argument that there are currently at least three different concepts associated with the term: 1) method as an organizing process, 2) as operations conducted on raw data, or 3) as cognitive exercises to support the critical thinking of the analyst. Based on these categories, the essay argues that a proper distinction of these different meanings of the term is necessary to improve the quality of intelligence analysis, given the assumption that analytic quality ought to be judged by the proper application of methods and not solely by the measurement of analytic outputs.”
Intelligence College in Europe First Academic Award : the laureate Giacomo LECCESE with Dr Luciano BOZZO, Associate Professor of International Relations & Theories of International Politics - University of Firenze
Munich 2026 Academic Conference:European Intelligence Research Reaches a New Milestone
For three days, the University of the Bundeswehr in Munich became the meeting point for Europe's intelligence research community. Against a strategic backdrop characterised by the return of high-intensity conflict, rapid technological innovation and the proliferation of hybrid threats, the Intelligence College in Europe Academic Conference demonstrated that dialogue between researchers and practitioners has become an essential driver for anticipating tomorrow's challenges. Beyond the scientific excellence of the discussions, the conference highlighted a significant development: European intelligence research is now firmly establishing itself as a genuine source of innovation serving the intelligence community.
“Innovation in intelligence no longer depends solely on technology or organisational structures, but on our ability to foster lasting collaboration between researchers and practitioners.”
From 17 to 19 June 2026, the University of the Bundeswehr in Munich hosted the Intelligence College in Europe Academic Conference under the theme “Science and Intelligence in Europe - Responding to a New Era of Uncertainty.” In an outstanding setting, academics, researchers, institutional representatives and intelligence professionals from across Europe gathered to discuss developments in a field undergoing unprecedented technological, geopolitical and methodological transformation.
Beyond the high academic standard of the presentations, this edition confirmed a broader trend: the emergence of a genuine European intelligence studies community, built upon an increasingly close partnership between academia and intelligence services.
A Conference Demonstrating the Maturity of the European Network
Organised under the German Presidency of the Intelligence College in Europe, the conference brought together more than one hundred participants from across Europe. The outstanding organisation, the warm hospitality extended to delegations and the many opportunities for informal exchanges contributed greatly to the success of the event.
The scientific programme was particularly comprehensive, featuring sixteen thematic panels, plenary round tables and a collaborative research workshop. This diversity of formats enabled participants to examine the major contemporary intelligence challenges from complementary perspectives, combining theoretical approaches, operational experience and forward-looking analysis.
The presentations reflected the growing breadth of European intelligence research, covering topics such as artificial intelligence, hybrid warfare, international cooperation, digital transformation, research security, the psychology of intelligence analysis, HUMINT, lessons from the Cold War, and the relationship between intelligence producers and decision-makers.
Artificial Intelligence and Hybrid Threats at the Heart of the Discussions
Among the most prominent themes, the impact of artificial intelligence on intelligence work attracted particular attention. Several researchers presented studies exploring the evolution of analytical methods, the changing relationship between analysts and automated tools, and the challenges of trust and human oversight in increasingly digital environments.
Discussions also focused extensively on the hybrid threats confronting European democracies. Speakers stressed the need for intelligence organisations to adapt to a strategic environment characterised by growing uncertainty, where the boundaries between military conflict, influence operations, cyber-attacks and economic competition are becoming increasingly blurred.
A German-Norwegian research programme examining the cognitive mechanisms employed by intelligence analysts attracted considerable interest. By combining psychology, cognitive science and operational requirements, the project perfectly illustrates the current shift towards research with direct practical relevance for intelligence services.
Strengthening the Link Between Research and Practice
One of the conference's principal conclusions was the shared determination to strengthen the connection between academic research and operational practice.
Many speakers emphasised the importance of producing research capable of delivering genuine added value to intelligence communities. This represents a significant evolution: intelligence studies are no longer confined to analysing public policy or the history of intelligence services, but increasingly seek to contribute directly to improving analytical methods, decision-making and strategic foresight.
More than half of the papers presented were recognised both for their academic originality and for their operational relevance. This ability to combine scholarly excellence with practical utility has become one of the defining strengths of the network developed by the Intelligence College in Europe.
An Academic Award to Encourage the Next Generation of Researchers
The Munich conference also saw the presentation of the inaugural Intelligence College in Europe Academic Award.
Created to promote emerging scholars working in the field of intelligence studies, the award recognises an outstanding dissertation or original essay addressing the annual theme selected by the College. For this first edition, the prize was awarded to the Italian researcher Giacomo Leccese for his study 'The Sea's Signature: Turning Oceanographic Data into Intelligence for Underwater Infrastructure Security'. The full paper is published separatly on this website while a summary will be published as well along the a summary of the two Honourable Mentions.
This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to support the next generation of European intelligence scholars. The competition is open to Master's students from institutions belonging to the College's Academic Network. In addition to a financial award and a Certificate of Excellence, the winner was invited to present his research during the conference, thereby facilitating his integration into the European academic community.
By recognising innovative research at an early stage of academic careers, the College is helping to build a sustainable pool of specialists in intelligence studies across Europe.
Looking Ahead to Paris 2028
Beyond the scientific discussions, considerable attention was devoted to preparations for the next Academic Conference, which will take place in Paris in 2028 under the French Presidency of the Intelligence College in Europe.
This represents an important opportunity to build upon the momentum created in Munich. Participants emphasised the value of involving all members of the Academic Advisory Board at an early stage in defining conference themes, selecting speakers and designing the various working formats.
Several possible developments were discussed, including organising closed workshops bringing together researchers and practitioners to address sensitive issues, introducing semi-closed sessions encouraging more direct exchanges, increasing the participation of carefully selected doctoral researchers, and creating additional practitioner-focused workshops where discussions could remain candid without involving classified information.
Many members of the network also expressed the wish to establish smaller thematic seminars between the biennial conferences. Such events would help maintain scientific momentum, strengthen professional networks and further enhance the visibility of research conducted under the auspices of the College.
A European Academic Community That Has Become Indispensable
The Munich conference marks an important milestone in the development of a European intellectual space dedicated to intelligence under the leadership of the Intelligence College in Europe. It confirms that intelligence studies have now matured into a fully-fledged academic discipline capable of producing high-quality research while addressing the practical needs of decision-makers and intelligence services.
In a strategic environment characterised by multiple crises, accelerating technological change and evolving forms of conflict, the ability to bridge academic research and professional practice has never been more important.
The prospect of the Paris 2028 Conference now opens a new chapter in the College's development. It will provide an opportunity to consolidate the achievements of Munich, further expand the European network and strengthen the contribution of academic research to strategic thinking in support of the European intelligence community.
“The Intelligence College in Europe : does it contribute to trust building in European intelligence cooperation?”
In its 7 th year of functioning, the Intelligence College in Europe has the pleasure to see published by Dr Artur Gruszczak, Chair of National Security at the Faculty of International and Political Studies, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, the very first exhaustive study on the College. Well known academic authority in Intelligence Studies, interested in European intelligence cooperation, European and transatlantic security, Professor Gruszczak has published, among others, a reference book on “Intelligence Security in the European Union: Building a Strategic Intelligence Community” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016).
In his new academic study, published online (first) the 28 Apr 2026 in the “Intelligence and National Security” review, he examines the objectives, activities, and outcomes of the Intelligence College in Europe from the perspective of reciprocal trust-building, a topic of utmost importance in intelligence partnership & exchanges.
It focus itself on the College’s efforts to bridge the gap between the intelligence community’s culture of secrecy and the culture of openness found in academia and civil society. The paper adopts a neo-functionalist framework to argue that trust-building through the IntelCollege has involved intelligence stakeholders in a heterogeneous organisational network aimed at fostering trust and mutual confidence. This synergetic, education- and professionalisation- driven approach seeks to enhance intelligence cooperation in addressing security risks and threats facing European states and societies.
This first comprehensive (2019-26) and exhaustive scientific research, covering the intelligence training aspect but also the thematic seminars and the outreach activities (Pilar 2 of the College) is based on a 360-degree approach, i.e. interviews with senior ICE officials, with representatives of EU and national intelligence authorities, as well as a survey conducted among scholars with expertise in international intelligence cooperation.
As demonstrated by Professor Gruszczak at the end of his study, the initial reservations expressed by certain national counterparts and international organisations have been overcome and the Intelligence College in Europe’s position “as a credible institutional entrepreneur” is now well established. The College has strengthened its reputation and trustworthiness “as a networking platform, enabling participants to exchange experiences and identify best practices.”
The IntelCollege has made progress “through careful and balanced propositions directed at state intelligence services as its primary stakeholders. Over time, it has developed a credible formula for strengthening intelligence cooperation, (…). This could serve as a valuable example of trust building in international intelligence cooperation.”
The Intelligence College in Europe participated for the third time in the international Paris Defence and Strategy Forum, organised by the Defence Academy of the École militaire (ACADEM). This forum, which follows on from the more nationally oriented event La Fabrique Défense (LFD), where the Intelligence College was also present, gained increased significance this year.
We took part in this international event organised by our ACADEM partner through three academic activities:
On 24 March, to mark the entry of the French Ministry of Defence think tank IRSEM into our academic network and to promote our European academic network ahead of our upcoming Munich academic conference, we organised an academic roundtable entitled “Intelligence failures: how to avoid or address them”. It was moderated by Dr Clément Renault (IRSEM) and featured three specialists in the field: Dr Dan Lomas (University of Nottingham and the Oxford Intelligence Group), a specialist on the Butler Report on the Iraq War; Professor Philippe Silberzahn (Emlyon business school), author, inter alia, of "Constructing Cassandra"; and Dr Bjørn Grønning (NORIS), author of one of the most recent non anglo-saxon studies on 16 cases of intelligence failures, published by Edinburgh University Press ("Contemporary Intelligence Warning Cases").
On 24 and 25 March, as has been the case since 2022 (LFD, then PDSF 2024, 2025 and 2026), the winners of the Intelligence College-supported Lithuanian outreach initiative “Intelligence Officer for a Week” were invited to the forum. Since its inception, the College has been part of the selection board and provides the first prize in order to support and promote this excellent initiative. The Lithuanian intelligence community and the Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University, led by Dr Margarita Šešelgytė, offer students the opportunity to discover the work of an intelligence analyst - an excellent outreach initiative that could be extended to other countries.
Presentation of the College and its activities during an interview conducted by Etienne Girard (L’Express) in the “Café stratégique” session on 26 March.
In 2025, we delivered the same number of activities, with as a highlight the keynote speech by Dr Gerhard Conrad on the challenges facing European intelligence, ahead of the ICE German Presidency.
The Intelligence College was pleased to welcome a significant number of colleagues and partners from intelligence services and academia, and to showcase its achievements - particularly in the academic field - which will culminate in June 2026 in a major academic conference in Germany and the first-ever European Intelligence Prize. The strong attendance at our roundtable, with a fully packed Castex conference room, clearly demonstrates the growing interest in a European intelligence culture.
Since the beginning of 2026, the ICE Academic Network has continued to expand and has welcomed new member countries and additional institutions from countries already represented in the Network.
We are pleased to welcome Switzerland as our 19 th Academic Network member. The Network has also been strengthened by the addition of the OSINT Centre of Excellence from Croatia and IRSEM from France. Austria has also significantly strengthened its academic presence within the Academic Network through the addition of the Austrian Center for Intelligence, Propaganda and Security Studies (ACIPSS), Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz.
From 3 to 5 February 2026, the first “Security and Intelligence Awareness” course took place in Brussels, following a pilot session held last year.
Building on participants’ feedback and the observations of the course organisers, an enhanced version was developed, adopting a more direct and pedagogical approach centred on a clear message: because of our access and responsibilities, we are all potential targets for hostile services or organisations. How do they operate? How can an approach be identified? How can we protect ourselves? Who should be contacted in case of doubt?
The decision to deliver a more pragmatic and purposeful course, focused on highly practical guidance, proved particularly relevant. The programme was met with outstanding success, as reflected in the very positive feedback received from participants.
The College extends its sincere thanks to its partners — the Mihai Viteazul National Intelligence Academy (ANIMV) in Bucharest and the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) — without whom this initiative would not have been possible. Thanks are also due to all speakers from the European institutions and the College’s academic network.
We look forward to welcoming participants again in the second half of 2026 for the next edition.
The ICE Bibliography on Intelligence – 4th Edition
Promoted by the Italian Presidency, the « ICE Bibliography on Intelligence » is the result of a joint effort by ICE member countries to promote a common culture of security. The project consists in building, under the ICE « brand », a collection of the most relevant books on intelligence and security issues.
Reaching its Fourth edition, it is designed as a comprehensive booklet intended for both practitioners and non-professionals, with the purpose to enhance knowledge, stimulate intellectual curiosity and bring a wider audience closer to the world of intelligence.
It is an extensive and updated collection featuring more than 1,000 selected non-fiction titles, mainly published in the last twenty years, without neglecting previously published works of particular relevance, carefully organized into several categories:
Intelligence History and Biographies: texts on the role played by intelligence in the history of international relations, from antiquity to the present day, and on the most famous biographies related to the world of espionage;
Theory of Intelligence: volumes dedicated to theoretical issues and studies of intelligence analysis, including a section specifically dedicated to economic intelligence analysis;
The World of Intelligence: works dealing with the legal aspects and their impact on the national decision-making process;
Intelligence Disciplines: in-depth studies of the sources, tools and specialities of intelligence and counterintelligence. The bibliography will be updated continuously;
Intelligence Studies: international strategic studies in the field of security and threats.
On Wednesday, 18 February 2026, the Intelligence College in Europe Permanent Secretariat (ICE PS) had the pleasure of welcoming the management team of the OSINT Centre of Excellence in Zagreb to its Paris headquarters, led by its Director, Dr Tomislav Dokman.
Although the OSINT Centre of Excellence has only recently joined our 46-member academic network, it has been actively engaged with the Intelligence College for the past two years, taking part in several conferences and events. The Centre is also among the regular contributors to the annual Intelligence College “SIAC Analytical Course”, delivered to new intelligence officers joining the EU Strategic Intelligence Fusion Centres (EU INTCEN and EUMS INT), brought together under the Single Intelligence Analytical Capacity (SIAC) partnership.
This visit between colleagues and friends provided an opportunity to review the Centre’s most recent support to ICE activities, including contributions made in January, to take note of the strengthened academic programme, and to explore new, practical avenues to further develop our long-standing cooperation.
As part of Germany’s Presidency of the Intelligence College in Europe in 2026, the Permanent Secretariat was pleased to welcome, on Friday 16 January, the new Director General of Germany’s Federal Internal Service (BfV) Mr Sinan Selen.
The visit provided an opportunity to reaffirm Germany’s strong commitment, both in general and through the BfV in particular. This support is reflected in staffing contributions and regular training courses and is further highlighted this year through Germany’s Presidency of the Intelligence College. The President also reiterated the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation not only at the operational level, but also through strategic dialogue and broader operational exchange, facilitated by the platform the College provides to its European members and partners.
This Presidency includes seven seminars and events throughout the year, including a seminar hosted by the BfV and an Academic Conference. It will also coincide with the election of the College’s first non-French Director. This milestone marks the full maturation and shared European ownership of a project initially launched as a French presidential initiative following the Sorbonne Speech of September 2017, and which has since developed into a lasting, fully European endeavour.
The Permanent Secretariat, and its leadership in particular, warmly thanks the President for his visit and looks forward to working together throughout Germany’s 2026 Presidency.
