Newsletter July 2023
Cybersecurity – Cornerstone of a Digital and Connected Europe
It is thus vital to develop effective solutions and new technologies to protect essential services such as hospitals, energy grids, railways, and the ever-increasing number of connected devices used in our homes, offices and factories.
Cybersecurity is a top priority for the European Commission and a cornerstone of a digital and connected Europe. The EU is prioritising cybersecurity in its support of research and innovation through Horizon Europe (HE) and the Digital Europe Programme (DEP). For the moment, it is not possible for Swiss entities to take part in DEP but they can participate in collaborative projects in HE. It would be a pity to miss out on this opportunity, especially as there is a thriving ecosystem of companies, including SMEs, and universities active in cybersecurity research in Switzerland. In the Romandy, the Trust Valley centre facilitates innovative projects in digital trust and cybersecurity. In Horizon 2020, 34 Swiss organisations were active in 25 cybersecurity projects, with a total budget of €14.8 million.
The 2023 calls for proposals in HE Cluster 3 "Civil Security for Society" have just opened with 22 topics, including several focused on cybersecurity (reinforcing the resilience of critical infrastructures; securing the computing continuum; preserving privacy and identity technologies; securing AI systems). Would you like to contribute to secure services, processes and products, and robust digital infrastructures capable of resisting and countering cyberattacks and hybrid threats? The deadline for submission is 23 November 2023.
Author: Nicole Wyss, National Contact Point for Civil Security for Society
Illustration: Alexandra Rosakis