Trial lecture
The Evolution of Digital Ecosystem Research: Governance Dynamics and Emerging Challenges.
Time and place: June 5, 2026 11:15 AM. Kristen Nygaards sal (5370), Ole-Johan Dahls hus
Main research findings
Digital health systems often struggle during crises, but this research shows that they can do more than cope. They can improve. The study finds that countries using shared and adaptable digital platforms were able to respond faster and more effectively during COVID-19. Rather than building new systems from scratch, they extended and reconfigured existing ones. This proved to be a critical advantage.
The research is important because many countries rely on digital systems to manage health services, monitor disease, and support decision making. When these systems are rigid or fragmented, they can become points of failure. But when they are built on open and extensible platforms, they can evolve as needs change. This makes it possible to respond under pressure while maintaining continuity.
The findings show that resilience is not only about recovery, but about transformation. The capacity to adapt, coordinate, and learn is shaped over time through the design and governance of digital systems. When a crisis occurs, these capacities can be activated and extended.
The impact is both practical and conceptual. The research shows that investments in open, shared platforms can strengthen national systems while supporting collaboration across countries. It also reframes resilience as something that can be designed and enabled, rather than simply observed after the fact.
Adjudication committee
- Associate Professor Ben Eaton, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
- Professor Polyxeni Vasilakopoulou, University of Agder, Norway
- Associate Professor Raissa Pershina, University of Oslo, Norway
Supervisors
Associate Professor Terje Sanner, University of Oslo, Norway
Professor Eric Monteiro, University of Oslo, Norway
Professor Brian Nicholson, The University of Manchester, UK
Chair of defence
- Professor Dag Langmyhr, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo
Contact information at Department: Mozhdeh Sheibani Harat