EU Establishes Industry-Academia Network to Boost Cybersecurity Skills

Brussels (Eurotoday) – The European Commission launched a call to strengthen cybersecurity skills through industry-academia collaboration for workforce development.

In conjunction with the European Cyber Skills Academy, the European Commission has launched a call for expressions of interest. The EU Commission stated that this innovative network seeks to strengthen links between industry and academia to promote cybersecurity skills and prepare the European cyber workforce for rapidly evolving industry demands.

How will the European Cyber Skills Academy strengthen cybersecurity?

In her remarks, Henna Virkkunen, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, stated: “Cybersecurity is a key priority for the European Union, and closing the skills gap is essential to ensure that our digital economy remains secure and competitive. I urge all relevant stakeholders to join the Industry-Academia Network and contribute to building a strong ecosystem that meets the needs of the cybersecurity labour market and supports the growth of a highly skilled European workforce.”

Why is cybersecurity a priority for the European Commission?

According to the EU Commission, the network will comprise members from the Cybersecurity Skills Academy, higher education institutions, European university alliances and vocational education and training (VET) providers. They will concentrate on aligning labour market requirements in cybersecurity with academic and training programmes that apply to current and emerging workforce requirements. 

Moreover, concrete partnerships are anticipated to appear, including joint programmes, mentoring schemes, training and other initiatives. The call will stay open permanently. However, stakeholders curious about joining the network launch group should apply no later than December 15, 2024.