Background

The establishment of the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (SHHBIDSS) was officially announced by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzadin Waddaulah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saiffudien Khairi Waddien, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, in His Majesty's Titah during the 45th Anniversary of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces on the 31st of May 2006.

The institute was formally formed with the appointment of its first Director in April 2007. The Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (SHHBIDSS) is a policy research think tank under the ambit of the Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. The institute supports and strengthens policy planning in the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) by providing research and analysis on defence, security and the strategic environment. SHHBIDSS also promotes a culture of research within the Ministry of Defence and the RBAF.

The institute also coordinates training for senior officers from both the civilian and military sectors through the Executive Development Programme (EDP). The institute previously managed the Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Scholarship from 2007 until February 2017.