Research activities

Advancing secure and interoperable digital infrastructure through research and collaboration

Research and academic collaboration support the development of secure, interoperable, and future-ready digital infrastructure. The Nordic Institute for Interoperability Solutions (NIIS) works with universities, research institutes, and other organisations worldwide to connect academic expertise with practical challenges, advance innovation, and improve digital solutions.

Interested in collaborating with NIIS?

We welcome research proposals, project partnerships, and enquiries about academic collaboration. Contact NIIS with a brief description of your research interests, proposed topic or project, and the type of cooperation you are seeking.

Research Focus Areas

NIIS supports research relevant to its products, particularly X-Road® and Harmony eDelivery Access®, and the evolving needs of their users. Our main areas of interest include:

Interoperability and Data Exchange

Technologies, architectures, and standards for secure data exchange, including distributed systems, cross-border and semantic interoperability, and integration between different solutions.

Cybersecurity, Privacy and Digital Trust

Security, privacy, and resilience of digital infrastructure, including secure communication, identity and access management, cryptography, and privacy-enhancing technologies.

Digital Government and Governance

Technical and organisational aspects of digital public infrastructure, including governance models, international cooperation, technology adoption, and the impacts of interoperability.

Emerging Technologies and Innovation

The potential of artificial intelligence, automation, and other emerging technologies to improve the capabilities, efficiency, and sustainability of digital infrastructure.

These areas are not exhaustive, and we welcome proposals on other topics relevant to NIIS's activities and strategic objectives.

Collaborate with NIIS

Depending on the topic and available resources, cooperation may take several forms:

Joint Research and Development

We collaborate on research initiatives addressing practical challenges in interoperability and digital infrastructure. Activities may include defining research questions, developing proposals, contributing technical expertise, and evaluating new approaches.

Graduate Theses and Academic Research

We welcome master's and doctoral research related to our products and expertise. Support may include identifying research topics, facilitating expert discussions, providing technical guidance, and offering access to relevant use cases.

Internships and Practical Learning

Students and early-career professionals can gain practical experience in an international technology development environment. Internship and open applications are accepted year-round through our Careers page.

Research Projects and Consortia

We are open to discussing participation in national, European, and international research projects aligned with our priorities. NIIS can contribute technical expertise, practical use cases, and experience in developing and maintaining shared digital infrastructure. Participation depends on project relevance, expected benefits, and available resources.

Research Projects and Publications

Research findings inform NIIS's technical decisions, product development, and future priorities. We share publications and other resources to support knowledge exchange and further research.

NIIS Publications – Publications and reports from NIIS research activities and collaborative projects

X-Road® Document Library – Research papers, publications and other X-Road-related resources

Our Research Collaborators

NIIS has cooperated with universities, research institutes, and other organisations internationally, including:

  • Aalto University

  • Åbo Akademi University

  • CSC - IT Center for Science

  • Demos Helsinki

  • ESADE Business and Law School

  • European Commission, Joint Research Centre

  • Fraunhofer Institute for Software and Systems Engineering ISST

  • Harvard Kennedy School

  • King’s College London

  • Nordic Open Science Cloud

  • Royal Holloway, University of London

  • Sitra (IHAN)

  • SMIT

  • Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)

  • Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech)

  • Tecnalia

  • TOOP

  • University of Buenos Aires

  • University of Helsinki

  • University of Konstanz

  • University of Skövde

  • University of Tartu

  • VTT Technical Research Centre

The list includes previous collaborations and does not necessarily reflect all ongoing partnerships.