Publications

COcyber (cocyber.eu) aims to ally the European civilian and defence cybersecurity communities by fostering knowledge sharing, harmonising European actions and proposing concrete tools for engagement and collaboration. To support our communication, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement activities, we run an ambassador programme that gathers 15+ European professionals actively participating in the European digital defence arena.

This FAQ document is directed to everyone interested in learning more about the COcyber Ambassador Programme. 

Disclaimer

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre. Neither the European Union nor the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre can be held responsible for them.

This public deliverable is part of the COcyber Work Package (WP) 4 "Know-how, good practice sharing, and information transfer activities". COcyber is a two-year initiative supported by the European Commission and European Cybersecurity Competence Centre to foster the collaboration of civilian and defence cybersecurity sectors.  

The report presents a comparative analysis of cybersecurity technology transfer and information-sharing frameworks across four EU Member States: Lithuania, Spain, Hungary, and Slovenia. Using a mixed-methods approach combining desk research, stakeholder interviews, surveys, and national validation workshops, the study identifies common challenges, best practices, and national divergences in cybersecurity governance, innovation ecosystems, and cross-sectoral collaboration. The findings highlight the importance of harmonised legal frameworks, institutional coordination, and sustained investment in dual-use technologies to strengthen EU-wide cybersecurity resilience and strategic autonomy.

Disclaimer

The COcyber project funded under Grant Agreement No. 101158606 is supported by the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre and funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre. Neither the European Union nor the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre can be held responsible for them. 

The contents of this deliverable are presented for informational purposes only and are subject to the pending approval of the European Commission (EC). The information, data, and conclusions presented herein may undergo revisions or modifications following the review and approval process by the European Commission. Recipients of this document are advised that any actions, decisions, or reliance on the information provided should be exercised with caution until the final approval from the European Commission is obtained. The authors and distributors of this deliverable shall not be held liable for any consequences arising from the use of information that has not yet received official European Commission approval.

This report presents an in-depth assessment of Spain’s national framework for dual-use cybersecurity technology transfer and information sharing. Using a mixed-method approach, combining desk research with stakeholder interviews, surveys, and a validation workshop, the study examines the effectiveness of Spain’s cybersecurity governance structures, technology transfer mechanisms and information-sharing practices, as well as the national landscape for dual-use cybersecurity technologies deployment, including the identification of best practices.

This case study examines Slovenia’s cybersecurity landscape, focusing on technology transfer, information sharing, and cooperation between civil and defence sectors. The research, based on desk analysis, interviews, surveys, and expert validation, finds that while Slovenia has established a solid regulatory and institutional foundation aligned with EU standards, implementation remains uneven. Key challenges include fragmented coordination, insufficient funding, and a shortage of skilled professionals. Nonetheless, strong progress has been achieved in international cooperation, R&D participation, and the development of national capabilities such as SI-CERT and URSIV. The study highlights the need to update the national cybersecurity strategy, enhance technology transfer mechanisms, and strengthen dual-use innovation. It concludes that Slovenia’s resilience depends on sustained political commitment, trust-based collaboration, and the integration of research, industry, and public administration into a coherent cybersecurity ecosystem.

Cybersecurity technology transfer and information sharing are vital for ensuring national security and resilience to cyber and hybrid threats. This report presents the results of a case study to analyse the mechanisms of cybersecurity technology transfer and information sharing in Lithuania. Furthermore, it provides recommendations for strengthening Lithuania’s national cybersecurity governance, enhancing cybersecurity technology transfer, and improving information sharing.

This study investigates the current landscape of cybersecurity collaboration in Hungary, with a specific emphasis on the interactions between the national defence sector and private industry. Given the escalating digital interconnectivity, the evolving nature of cyber threats, and the vulnerability of supply chains, the imperatives of national security and economic stability increasingly rely on effective cross-sector cooperation. The research methodology includes an analysis of policy and legal documents, semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from governmental, military, industrial, and academic spheres, as well as two case studies focusing on civil-military collaboration in the protection of critical infrastructure. The findings suggest that although foundational elements of cooperation exist, systemic integration and institutionalized knowledge sharing are inadequately developed. Major challenges identified include legal fragmentation, a lack of trust among sectors, limited human resource capacity, and the absence of standardized incident response protocols. Nonetheless, emerging initiatives, such as strengthened connections between the Hungarian National Cyber Security Centre, the Ministry of Defence, industry entities, and the academic community, provide a promising foundation for a knowledge-driven cybersecurity ecosystem. This paper advocates for a structured, multi-stakeholder collaboration model designed to enhance national cyber resilience.

This 5th edition of the COcyber newsletter highlights new progress within the project — from the new deliverable Guidelines on Cybersecurity Civil-Defence Cooperation and our upcoming event in Brussels to updates from the COcyber platform and Ambassador Programme — alongside selected insights from the wider European cybersecurity field.

This public deliverable is part of the COcyber Work Package (WP) 4 "Know-how, good practice sharing, and information transfer activities". COcyber is a two-year initiative supported by the European Commission and European Cybersecurity Competence Centre to foster the collaboration of civilian and defence cybersecurity sectors.  

This report summarises the research activities carried out under Task 4.1 of the COcyber project, which focuses on identifying and validating best practices to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation between the civilian and defence sectors across the European Union.

As cyber threats increasingly blur the boundaries between civilian and military domains, establishing structured and effective collaboration models is becoming essential to building a resilient and unified European cybersecurity ecosystem.

The objective of Task 4.1 was to identify at least ten transferable best practices that illustrate successful examples of civil-defence cooperation. These practices were selected through a rigorous process combining desk research, stakeholder consultations, and a validation and rating phase with cybersecurity experts from across Europe.

Disclaimer

The COcyber project funded under Grant Agreement No. 101158606 is supported by the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre and funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre. Neither the European Union nor the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre can be held responsible for them. 

The contents of this deliverable are presented for informational purposes only and are subject to the pending approval of the European Commission (EC). The information, data, and conclusions presented herein may undergo revisions or modifications following the review and approval process by the European Commission. Recipients of this document are advised that any actions, decisions, or reliance on the information provided should be exercised with caution until the final approval from the European Commission is obtained. The authors and distributors of this deliverable shall not be held liable for any consequences arising from the use of information that has not yet received official European Commission approval.

This public deliverable is part of the COcyber Work Package (WP) 2 “Coordination activities between cybersecurity civilian and defence spheres”. COcyber is a two-year initiative supported by the European Commission and European Cybersecurity Competence Centre to foster the collaboration of civilian and defence cybersecurity sectors.  

Abstract

This report summarises the Needs Assessment conducted under Task 2.2 “Needs assessment and consultation for improved participation and collaboration” of the COcyber project, focusing on identifying the needs, challenges, and opportunities for enhancing collaboration between the civilian and defence sectors in cybersecurity. As cyber threats evolve and increasingly sophisticated, stronger partnerships between these sectors are essential to ensure national cyber resilience.

The primary objective of the assessment was to evaluate key areas for collaboration, including joint cyber defence initiatives, technology sharing, crisis management, and policy alignment. The study utilised a participatory approach, combining quantitative survey, qualitative focus group discussions, and consultations with key stakeholders, such as representatives from European institutions (ENISA, EDA, EC), national defence ministries, cybersecurity agencies, industrial players, and research institutions.

Key findings highlight critical gaps in collaboration and propose actionable insights to guide the development of a structured roadmap in Task 2.3. This roadmap establishes short-, medium-, and long-term strategies for fostering sustainable and integrated partnerships. The outcomes of this assessment provide a foundation for aligning civilian and defence efforts to address emerging cybersecurity challenges effectively.

Disclaimer

The COcyber project funded under Grant Agreement No. 101158606 is supported by the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre and funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre. Neither the European Union nor the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre can be held responsible for them. 

The contents of this deliverable are presented for informational purposes only and are subject to the pending approval of the European Commission (EC). The information, data, and conclusions presented herein may undergo revisions or modifications following the review and approval process by the European Commission. Recipients of this document are advised that any actions, decisions, or reliance on the information provided should be exercised with caution until the final approval from the European Commission is obtained. The authors and distributors of this deliverable shall not be held liable for any consequences arising from the use of information that has not yet received official European Commission approval.

This 4th edition of the COcyber newsletter shares highlights from our third General Assembly, introduces the new cohort of COcyber Ambassadors, and presents two newly released deliverables alongside the latest platform features. It also includes video recaps from our key events, upcoming opportunities from our network, and important developments shaping Europe’s cybersecurity strategy.