In an effort to bolster international collaboration in cybersecurity, the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) recently organized a landmark workshop in Belgium. Co-hosted with KU Leuven, one of the leading universities in the field, this workshop aimed to explore new avenues for research and innovation between the United States and Europe.
Background
Luiz DaSilva, Ph.D., Executive Director of CCI, expressed his excitement about the event: “I was delighted to organize an international cybersecurity workshop this month in Belgium to explore research and innovation collaborations between the United States and Europe.” The workshop brought together 60 experts from 35 academic, industry, and governmental organizations across 10 countries, underscoring the global importance of this initiative. Three of these experts are researchers from our CCI Central Virginia Node (CVN).
Workshop Details
The workshop was a convergence of diverse minds, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of State, the European Cybersecurity Competence Center, London’s Imperial College, Virginia Commonwealth University, AT&T, Nokia Bell Labs, George Mason University, and many more.
The two-day event was structured around three pivotal themes: connectivity security, AI and cybersecurity, and embedded security. These themes were chosen to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities for international collaboration today. Dr. DaSilva noted, “This dynamic workshop featured lively discussions focused on building the international foundation we need to develop resilient and secure systems.”
Day 1: Outlining Capabilities and Initial Discussions:
The first day began with a warm welcome from Dr. DaSilva and Bart Preneel, Ph.D. followed by opening remarks from Virginia Tech’s Executive Vice President and Provost Cyril Clarke and KU Leuven’s Executive Director of Research & Development Koenraad Debackere. The morning sessions included a panel discussion on AI and its role in cybersecurity, setting the stage for identifying crucial areas for collaboration. During the breakout sessions, participants enumerated the top five research problems that could benefit from US-European collaboration. The day concluded with a panel on embedded security challenges and a dinner at the KU Leuven Faculty Club, which fostered informal networking and idea exchange.
“The workshop is just the start, but at least it’s a good start, because now we know what can be done,” said Irfan Ahmed, Ph.D., one of the CCI CVN’s researchers attending the workshop. His research primarily focuses on protecting critical cyber-physical systems.
Day 2: Identifying Collaboration Opportunities:
The second day shifted focus to identifying concrete opportunities for collaboration. Keynote speakers, including Tom Rondeau, Ph.D. from the US Department of Defense, and Martina Castiglioni from the European Cybersecurity Competence Center, set the stage for discussions on connectivity security and enablers for intercontinental research.
In the afternoon, breakout sessions facilitated discussions on strategies for enabling joint research efforts, such as funding and exchange programs. “The breakout sessions were just the right size to generate some really good ideas. We shook hands and came up with ways to collaborate,” said Milos Manic, Ph.D., one of CCI CVN’s researchers and part of the opening panel on AI cybersecurity, as well as the Director of the Cybersecurity Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.
The workshop concluded with closing remarks and the next steps outlined by Dan Sui, Ph.D., and the organizers.
Our CVN researchers shared their goals and expectations prior to the event.
“The networking there is part of the success. I want to get to know people working in different areas in Europe and establish a lasting connection that generates discussion about more lasting projects, publication, and joint research,” said Sherif Abdelwahed Ph.D., the third CVN researcher attending the workshop. Dr. Abdelwahed’s research focuses mainly on autonomous system design.
“I think we can do more than papers. Pursuing some kind of call for proposal that calls for international collaboration would probably be the top win if we could score it. Because winning an award like this really means you win financial means to meet, to talk, to keep working together,” added Dr. Manic.
Reflecting on the workshop, researchers noted the invaluable insights gained and the potential for future collaborations.
“We gathered in breakout sessions to discuss what opportunities are out there that enable collaboration between us and our European counterparts. Of course, we knew about some of those like NSF, but they’re limited, so the idea now is to create a kind of a white paper and send it to the funding agencies in the US and Europe to hopefully align their funding to the crucial topics that the workshop focused on. It’s a little like writing a proposal,” Dr. Ahmed explained in a follow up interview after the workshop.
Next Steps for US/EU Collaboration
The workshop set the stage for significant US-Europe collaborations. “Given the level of interaction, I have no doubt that significant U.S.-Europe collaborations will arise from this event,” said Dr. DaSilva. A comprehensive report detailing the main findings from the workshop will be issued soon. This report is expected to guide future research and policy. CCI remains committed to fostering international partnerships and driving innovation. The organization plans to build on the momentum from this workshop to facilitate ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The CCI European Workshop in Belgium brought together leading experts from around the world, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in addressing cybersecurity challenges. As Dr. Manic aptly put it:
“Cybersecurity is not tied to a location; it’s a shared responsibility, and it should be addressed worldwide.”
