Publications

This White Paper presents the COcyber policy recommendations for strengthening civilian–defence cybersecurity coordination in Europe. It translates the project’s policy review, needs assessment, PESTEL analysis, national case studies and stakeholder validation into a sequenced implementation agenda for EU and national policymakers. The recommendations focus on practical interoperability, trusted information sharing, protected incident reporting, joint exercises, skills, funding alignment, innovation uptake, dual-use guidance, hybrid-threat preparedness, post-quantum transition and continuous [...]

This white paper examines cybersecurity awareness as a communication challenge and a key component of cyber resilience. It explores how people understand, interpret, and respond to cyber risks, and why awareness strategies need to reflect real decision-making contexts. The paper focuses on three areas: the human factors that make individuals vulnerable to manipulation, the design of targeted awareness campaigns, and the use of engaging formats such as gamification, storytelling, simulations, and team-based activities. It highlights the limits of generic and fear-based communication, the import [...]

This deliverable presents the COcyber policy recommendations for strengthening civiliandefence cybersecurity coordination in Europe. It addresses the growing interdependence between civilian infrastructures, defence preparedness, public authorities, private operators, research actors and critical digital supply chains in a threat environment where cyber incidents can rapidly create cross-sector, cross-border and security-relevant impacts. Building on the findings of the COcyber Needs Assessment, PESTEL analysis, national case studies from Lithuania, Spain, Hungary and Slovenia, a policy and li [...]

This white paper examines the cybersecurity ecosystem in Slovenia, with a focus on cooperation between civil and defence domains. Based on the Slovenian national case study developed within the COcyber project, it provides a synthesised, policy-oriented perspective. While Slovenia has a solid regulatory and institutional foundation, its effectiveness is limited by fragmented coordination, skills shortages, and gaps in technology transfer, information sharing, and dual-use innovation. The paper concludes that better coordination, investment, and integration of existing capabilities are essentia [...]

Hungary's experience offers lessons for any EU member state navigating the gap between cybersecurity strategy and implementation. The adoption of a new Cybersecurity Strategy (Government Decision 1089/2025) and a National Cybersecurity Action Plan for 2025–2030 marks a significant development in Hungarian cybersecurity governance. For the first time, strategic ambition is paired with a structured, publicly accountable implementation mechanism, addressing the strategy-implementation gap better than in earlier policy cycles. This white paper examines the significance of the National Action Plan, [...]

This 8th edition of the COcyber newsletter highlights new features now available on the COcyber Platform, including Partner Research, the Projects Landscape, and the Repository of Practices. It also brings together the five Cyber Duality podcast episodes, looks ahead to the COcyber Final Conference in Brussels on 25 June 2026, and closes with a farewell message to the COcyber community as the project reaches its final month.

  This 7th edition of the COcyber  newsletter highlights new progress within the project, from the COcyber platform updates related to funding sources and guidelines to the first two episodes from our Cyber Duality: A Cocyber A podcast series. The issue presents as well two success stories showcasing two of our four national use cases and invites members to take part in our community survey to gather feedback and help us shape future activities and tools around the needs of the COcyber network.

COcyber Press Release #4 announces the COcyber Final Conference, A Unified Response to Multiple Threats: Building Europe’s Cyber Shield Across Borders, taking place on 25 June 2026 at the Residence Palace in Brussels. The press release presents the conference focus, including cross border cybersecurity cooperation, protection of democratic processes, translation of policy into practice, and dual use cyber innovation. It also introduces the role of the COcyber project in strengthening coordination between civilian and defence cybersecurity communities across Europe.

This white paper provides a critical assessment of the Lithuanian national case study and explores Lithuania’s efforts to strengthen its cybersecurity ecosystem beyond regulatory compliance. Although the country has developed a strong centralised governance model and aligned rapidly with EU frameworks such as NIS2, challenges remain in implementation, workforce capacity, and information sharing. The paper argues that resilience depends on practical coordination, trusted collaboration, and skilled professionals rather than regulation alone. It recommends reforms in workforce development, intell [...]

Europe faces a significant shortage of skilled professionals in two key digital technology areas critical for its future competitiveness and security: Cybersecurity and Robotics. Traditional education programmes often lack the specialisation, practical orientation, and interdisciplinary approach (including innovation and entrepreneurship) needed to bridge this skills gap. SPECTRO's primary objective is to address this challenge by designing and delivering two double-degree master's programmes (ISCED Level 7, 120 ECTS) and a suite of self-standing online learning modules in Cybersecurity and Ro [...]