Markus Holmgren
Research Fellow- technology power politics
- technological resilience
- geoeconomics
- digital security architecture
- hybrid strategies
Markus Holmgren is a Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs conducting research on the general theme of geoeconomics and emerging technologies. He is completing his Ph.D. on the geoeconomics of the Internet at the University of Turku. He’s also a visiting researcher at the Aalto University dept. of Computer Science.
Holmgren’s areas of expertise include the technology power politics, digital geoeconomics, technological resilience, Europe’s digital sovereignty, industrial politics, and politics of technology development. Markus has also worked with more specific topics like the global cloud, corporate geoeconomic agency, technology supply chain management, policy risk analysis, hybrid threats, and technology related foresight.
Holmgren’s current work focuses on developing a geoeconomic power -index, on US-China tech rivalry, technology foresight, the geopolitics of internet, and European tech stack.
Degrees
Doctoral student in Political Science, University of Turku, 2022-
Master of Social Sciences (Global Political Economy), University of Helsinki 2018
Bachelor of Social Sciences (Global Political Economy), University of Helsinki 2016
Language skills
Finnish, English (working languages)
Work experience
Research Fellow, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs 2021-
Project Researcher, Aalto university, dept. of Computer Science 2025
Private Solicitor, International trade and policy risks, 2019-2021
Intern, European Parliament, INTA committee, 2018
Teaching experience
Master level course “International Relations and Technology”, Aalto University, ongoing
Lecture “Digital Pover Politics”, 6 locations, 2023-2025
Lecture “European Digital Dependencies to the US”, Finnish Parliament, 2025
Lecture “Technology Rivalries and Internet”, Ministry of Transport and Communications, 2025
Lecture: “Eurostack and dependencies”, Ministry of Transport and Communications, 2025
Lecture: “Corporate Preparedness to Geoeconomics of Nations”, NESA, 2024
Lecture: “National Foresight on Technological Development and Supply, NESA, 2024
Lecture “Hybrid Strategies in the World of Connections”, University of Helsinki, 2023
Lecture Series “Digital Pover Politics and Geoeconomics”, TRAFICOM, 2022
Lecture “Emerging Technologies of Crime”, Police University College, 2022
Key project experience
Power politics by economic means: The geoeconomics research initiative. Funded by the Research Council of Finland. My role is to analyse the power derivable from data-related goods as tools of geoeconomic statecraft and include them to the index. I acquired insights concerning digital dependencies and the use of software as a leverage.
The Geopolitics of Cloud Computing: How State-Firm Interactions Shape the Geography of Computation to Produce Digital Sovereignty and Dependence. Funded by the European Union (ERC). My role is to analyse international dependencies of sovereign clouds. I acquired insights on global cloud and technological dependencies.
China’s disruptive technologies and international security. Funded by the Scientific Advisory Board for Defence. As the lead researcher my role is to analyse the state of China’s quantum and AI industry and upcoming military or intelligence advantages. I acquired insights concerning Chinese AI system related risks and tech company management.
Geoeconomic risks and their impact on the security of supply of Finland and the European Union. Funded by the National Emergency Supply Agency. My role is to analyse the technological goods risks. I acquired insight concerning Chinese digital assets supply and dependency risks.
Space dependencies management. Funded by the National Emergency Supply Agency. As the lead researcher my role was to analyse the rapidly changing nature of space as an operational environment and develop practical recommendations for resilience. I acquired insights concerning orbital and launch technologies, space supply chains, and related dependencies.
Technological Resilience trough tech stack management. Funded by the National Emergency Supply Agency. As the lead researcher my role was to analyse Finland’s tech stack dependencies and device ways to reduce them. I acquired insights concerning data localisation regulations, national tech stack management, and software dependencies.
Circular economy and Resilience: The potential of circular economy for national resilience. Funded by the Prime Minister’s office. My role was to analyse the national security risks related to information transfer systems required by functioning circular economy. I acquired insights concerning international digital information transfer systems and mass surveillance.
China’s international 5G strategy and its implications for Finland. As the sole researcher my role was to analyse China’s 5G strategy, China’s 5G components impact and China’s capability to use gained dependencies as leverage. I acquired insights concerning China’s strategic trade and industrial politics.