[21.11.2025] Join Us for the Hybrid International Industry Engagement Workshop on Cybersecurity!

MERIT project is announcing the upcoming International Industry Engagement Workshop on Cybersecurity, taking place on 21 November 2025, 09:00 – 11:30 CET, in a hybrid format – hosted in Romania and accessible online for participants across Europe. This workshop will bring together SMEs, higher education institutions (HEIs), cybersecurity experts, and students from European countries to share their insights and build pathways for future collaborations. Participants can receive a certificate of participation on request. 

Why to join the workshop?

This year’s workshop will focus on cybersecurity real-world applications and industry insights. While all interested participants are welcome, only organisations actively working in the cybersecurity field will have the opportunity to present their experiences. 

By attending, you will: 
✅ Engage with industry leaders and cybersecurity specialists. 
✅ Discover cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions and industry trends. 
✅ Contribute to discussions shaping the future of MERIT master study programmes. 
✅ Receive a certificate of participation on demand. 

The workshop will be recorded and shared on MERIT channels to ensure broader knowledge dissemination. 

How can you participate?

🔹 Organisations – share your expertise, industry challenges, and explore collaboration opportunities.
🔹 Experts – provide insights into cybersecurity trends, emerging technologies, and practical solutions.
🔹 Silent participants – observe discussions and gain valuable knowledge from industry leaders.

Agenda

|| Opening Session and Welcome Remarks

Introduction to the workshop’s objectives, participant guidelines, and the relevance of industry–academia cooperation in strengthening cybersecurity skills across Europe. The moderator, Prof. Kumar Adarsh (UPES), opened the panel and prepared the audience for the thematic presentations.

|| Cybrcor Moldova: Strengthening Cybersecurity Skills Through Hands-On Education

Speaker: Marius Dumitrascu of the CYBERCOR Institute, Technical University of Moldova
This session explored Moldova’s rapid digitalisation and the establishment of CYBERCOR, an institute dedicated to practical cybersecurity training. The presentation described student involvement in real-life projects, collaborations with national agencies and international partners, and the creation of a developing cybersecurity community focused on applied learning and workforce development.

|| Cybersecurity for System-of-Systems: The CYSOS Project Framework

Speaker: Kenneth Lind, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
The presentation examined cyber risks within complex global supply chains, where organisations interconnect their digital infrastructures. Lind introduced the CYSOS cybersecurity framework, designed to guide governance, resilience, information sharing, and technological safeguards. He also detailed its validation through the Virtual Watchtower community, demonstrating how system-of-systems cybersecurity must be built on trust and shared responsibility.

|| Cyber Resilience in Critical Water Infrastructure: The ATHENA Project

Speaker: Sebastiaan Schuemie, Rijkswaterstaat (Netherlands)
This session focused on cybersecurity challenges in operational technology environments within the water sector. The ATHENA project was presented as a European initiative that uses immersive training—combining e-learning, tabletop exercises, and virtual reality simulations—to prepare operators and leadership teams for cyber incidents. The project’s scientific foundations and EU-wide scalability were key points of discussion.

|| EU Funding Opportunities for SMEs and National Cybersecurity Support

Speaker: Ioana Călărașu, National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity (Romania)
The final presentation highlighted the funding and support instruments available to SMEs and public entities under the Digital Europe Programme and the NIS2/Cyber Resilience Act framework. Ioana outlined upcoming Romanian funding schemes, the €4 million national budget dedicated to SME digital security, and Romania’s participation in major EU projects. The session emphasised community-building and stakeholder engagement.

|| Closing Discussion and Networking

Participants engaged with speakers in an open Q&A session addressing implementation challenges, sector-specific needs, training adoption, and cross-border cooperation. The workshop closed with an invitation to continue collaboration through MERIT’s upcoming events, courses, and partnerships.

Register Now! [Closed]

To confirm your attendance, please fill out the REGISTRATION FORM. Presenters must register and submit their presentations by 1 November 2025. For inquiries, contact us at cristina.bulat@digital-innovation.zone. Stay tuned for more updates — we look forward to welcoming you to the Hybrid International Industry Engagement Workshop on Cybersecurity in Romania and online!