CyberHubs: Building Europe’s Cybersecurity Skills Ecosystem

In response to the growing shortage of cybersecurity professionals across Europe, Solvay Lifelong Learning (SLL) is proud to be a member of the CyberHubs project. This ambitious initiative, launched in June 2024, aims to develop a collaborative European network of cybersecurity skills incubators that will help bridge the skills gap and support the development of a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce.

CyberHubs is a three-year project designed to strengthen the cybersecurity professional skills ecosystem across Europe. Led by DIGITALEUROPE and funded by the Erasmus+ programme, the initiative brings together a consortium of 21 full partners from 11 EU Member States and three associated partners. Over the next three years, CyberHubs will establish seven Cybersecurity Skills Hubs in Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Spain.

Solvay’s Contribution to CyberHubs

Professor Georges Ataya, Academic Director of the Executive Master in Cybersecurity Management at Solvay, leads a team of researchers and students involved in the CyberHubs project. Solvay’s efforts, in collaboration with Agoria and Howest University of Applied Sciences, focus on developing and implementing a robust cybersecurity skills framework for Belgium, addressing the specific needs of the Belgian market.

The CyberHubs project is designed to promote innovation in cybersecurity education and to facilitate the matching of skills with job and learning opportunities. By enhancing professional skills in cybersecurity, the project will contribute to building a sustainable, long-term talent pipeline that can respond to both current and future cybersecurity challenges.

Driving Cybersecurity Workforce Development

One of the key deliverables from the Solvay team is a comprehensive study documenting the demands and offers for cybersecurity skills in Belgium. This study, currently under review by Agoria and the “Cybersecurity Made in Belgium” task force, is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s future cybersecurity workforce development. The first draft of this study will be available in October 2024.

By connecting industry leaders, experts, researchers, and policymakers, CyberHubs seeks to foster greater collaboration and innovation, ultimately increasing the number of skilled cybersecurity professionals across Europe.

For more information, visit CyberHubs.