Communication systems for critical public services

SWEN (Rakel G2) is the next generation of Sweden’s national communication system for critical public services. The project follows the implementation of SWEN (The Swedish Emergency Network) and explores how new technology affects work practices, collaboration, and information sharing in public crisis management, safety and security.

Rakel is Sweden’s national communication system for public actors providing critical public services in law enforcement, security, health, and defence. The current system, operational since the mid-2000s, is now undergoing a major modernisation. On behalf of the Swedish government, the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF) is developing SWEN – a technological upgrade that also entails an extensive organisational transformation, where new functions, services, and work practices are developed together with the user organisations.

This research project follows the transition from Rakel to SWEN to generate knowledge about how users, organisations and authorities handle the change. It examines both how the technology is understood and used in practice and how it affects collaboration, governance and information sharing within and between organisations providing critical public services.

The work is organized into four thematic work packages (WP), each addressing different aspects of the transition to Rakel G2:

WP1: Technological Change and Information Sharing – how SWEN influences work practices, collaboration, and sensemaking around communication technology.

WP2: Information Management and Situational Awareness – how the new system may transform information sharing, visualisation and the development of situational overviews.

WP3: Organisation and Collaboration – the organisational, security and governance challenges and opportunities that arise when implementing new critical information and communication infrastructure.

WP4: Expectations and Perceptions – how different actors view SWEN, its potential and the risks and challenges associated with the system.

The project is carried out in close collaboration with MCF and participating organisations at local, regional, and national levels. The results will contribute both to advancing the academic field of risk and crisis communication and to practical insights and recommendations for supporting the effective implementation and use of SWEN.

Knowledge from the project is continuously disseminated through seminars, scientific publications and dialogue with key stakeholders. In doing so, the project strengthens Sweden’s future capacity for secure, robust, and effective communication within critical public services to enhance societal resilience.

Project organisation

Project period: September 2025 - December 2027

Projekt members:
Assoc. prof. Dr. Christine Grosse, Luleå University of Technology
Dr. Martina Granholm, Mid Sweden University
Prof. Dr. Erik Borglund, Mid Sweden University
Dr. Leif Sundberg, Umeå University