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EU strengthens cybersecurity research

Systems and data security
A new large research network will strengthen European cybersecurity capacity. DTU represents Denmark in CyberSec4Europe pilot project.

In a digital world facing increasingly sophisticated hacker attacks targeting both private computers and vital infrastructure, cybersecurity is climbing further and further up the agenda of many societies. On 26 February, the EU launched the CyberSec4Europe project, which is one of four pilot projects established under a call to establish and operate a European Cybersecurity Competence Network

"Not only should we be able to defend ourselves against hacking. It’s even more about building a stronger European democracy based on systems we can trust."
Alberto Lluch Lafuente

DTU is world-leading within the field of cybersecurity, and DTU’s expertise will now be used to influence European research in this field. The CyberSec4Europe project will bring together and coordinate European top research with a particular focus on the health sector, the transport and financial sectors as well as smart cities—four areas facing different challenges and consequently in need of different security solutions.

DTU will contribute to defining the research tracks to be pursued in the next few years, while at the same time continuing its own research and teaching activities in the field of cybersecurity.

“The idea behind this high-priority European research project is not only that we must be able to defend ourselves against hacking. It’s even more about building a stronger European democracy based on systems we can trust,” says Head of Section and Associate Professor at DTU Compute Alberto Lluch Lafuente, who heads the Danish CyberSec4Europe activities.

The project has 43 partners in 20 member states, and EUR 16 million has been earmarked for the project over three and a half years. The four pilot projects under the European Cybersecurity Competence Network initiative receive funding of EUR 64 million and involve 160 partners in 26 member states.