Ten-year celebration: Solvay Business School, a founding partner of the Belgian Cybersecurity Coalition

Recognising this urgent need for collective defence, the Solvay Business School joined two other central pillars,  the Belgian Federation of Enterprises (FEB-VBO) and the telecom provider Belgacom (now Proximus), to establish a unified defence strategy.

This shared commitment in late 2014 resulted in the formation of the Belgian Cybersecurity Coalition. Its founding mission was to unite the nation’s three core sectors: the Private, Public, and Academic sectors, creating a comprehensive cybersecurity ecosystem.

A major force in the national landscape

Today, led by CEO Henk Dujardin, the Coalition has evolved into a significant force in strengthening Belgium's national cyber resilience. It serves as the go-to spot for cybersecurity experts, fostering a trusted platform for information exchange and joint actions.

The Coalition’s expansive calendar reflects its influence, featuring multiple activities every other month, including:

• Specialised focus groups and knowledge-sharing sessions.

• Large-scale conferences and publications.

• Engaging podcasts featuring insights from leading experts.

Solvay’s Enduring Commitment

Solvay’s commitment remains central to the Coalition’s ongoing mission. Professor Georges Ataya from the Digital Governance and Trust team, who is also the Academic Director at Solvay Lifelong Learning's Executive Master in Cybersecurity Management and a Professor of Research at ULB, is a vital member of the Board of Directors and serves as Vice-Chair of the Coalition.

This involvement ensures that the cutting-edge research and educational standards of Solvay are directly integrated into the national cyber strategy, fulfilling the academic sector's role in the original partnership.

The Coalition thrives by bringing together the skills and expertise of its members to bolster Belgium’s cyber security resilience. Many of our own alumni graduates are now active participants in this ecosystem, contributing their knowledge either through their employers or directly as freelance experts.

We congratulate the Belgian Cybersecurity Coalition on its tenth anniversary and look forward to continuing this crucial partnership in the years to come!