COcyber: Bridging Civilian and Defence Cybersecurity in Europe

As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, the COcyber project, launched in August 2024, seeks to enhance collaboration between civilian and defence spheres to build a stronger, unified front against cyber risks. With five distinguished partners, including the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, this multidisciplinary team is leading a two-year project that focuses on coordination, knowledge exchange, and innovation in cybersecurity.

Professor Georges Ataya, from Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, directs a series of deliverables in collaboration with a team of five researchers, all contributing to the development of a strategic framework for structured knowledge transfer between these two critical sectors.

Key Partners of COcyber:

• Université libre de Bruxelles: Facilitates knowledge exchange through case studies and collaborative research.
• European Organisation for Security (EOS): Builds strong community ties and fosters collaboration across the network.
• The Lisbon Council: Develops and manages the COcyber platform, an online hub for sharing information and best practices.
• AUSTRALO: Manages communication strategies and stakeholder engagement to maximise the impact of the project.
• EIT Digital: Oversees project coordination and management.

Driving Innovation and Harmonisation in Cybersecurity

The COcyber initiative aims to bridge the gap between civilian and defence spheres by creating a trusted, participatory platform that fosters collaboration across all cybersecurity stakeholders. This platform will include a cybersecurity observatory, which will serve as a critical tool for monitoring and sharing information.

The project also organises high-impact events and activities focused on cybersecurity innovation, dual-use technologies, and governance. These efforts will culminate in policy recommendations to help harmonise cybersecurity actions across EU Member States, ensuring a coordinated response to emerging threats.

Already, the ULB team has launched three foundational tasks: identifying needs, building requirements for the cybersecurity observatory, and documenting successful cooperation cases across Europe.

Funded by the European Union, COcyber is conducted under the guidance of the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre, positioning it as a key initiative in shaping Europe’s cybersecurity future.