ECYBRIDGE
Anchoring Cyber Resilience: Cybersecurity Strategies for a Unified Digital Europe
About The Event
Where
Constanta Maritime University, Romania
When
9-11 December 2025, Tuesday to Thursday
This conference serves as a vibrant and interactive platform dedicated to fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and promoting the exchange of knowledge. It significantly advances the overarching goals of the ECYBRIDGE project by supporting a unified and strategic approach to strengthening Europe’s cyber resilience.
Bringing together a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, academic experts, and cybersecurity professionals, the conference enables the sharing of best practices, state-of-the-art research, and pioneering solutions to contemporary cybersecurity challenges. These interactions not only enrich the collective expertise of participants but also nurture a growing community of cyber professionals dedicated to safeguarding Europe’s digital ecosystem.
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The event facilitates networking and partnership building, offering participants the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, establish strategic alliances, and collaborate on forward-looking initiatives. These connections are vital for cultivating a cohesive cybersecurity landscape across the continent.
In addition, the conference plays a pivotal role in the dissemination of cutting-edge research and technological breakthroughs. By showcasing the latest tools, methodologies, and innovations, it ensures that participants remain well-equipped to confront emerging cyber threats. This reflects the ECYBRIDGE project’s commitment to staying at the forefront of cybersecurity development and promoting continuous progress within the sector.
Importantly, the conference also provides a high-level forum for cybersecurity policymaking at both European and national levels. It invites policymakers to deliberate on current and future policy needs, informed by expert insights and stakeholder perspectives. In doing so, it supports the development of robust, forward-thinking strategies to protect Europe’s digital infrastructure and promote resilience in an increasingly complex threat environment.
Online registration closed – conference fully booked
Late arrivals can register directly at the conference venue
Event Schedule
Day 1
9 Dec, 2025
08:30 Am
Welcoming Day 1
08:30 - 09:00 Am
Registration
09:00 - 09:10 Am
Opening Remarks
Professor Gabriel Raicu
Rector, Constanta Maritime University
Project Director, ECYBRIDGE
09:10 - 10:45 Am
Opening Panel
Anchoring Cyber Resilience in a Fragmented Threat Landscape: From Strategic Vision to Collective Action
Chair:
Dr Niculae Iancu
Vice-President, Maritime Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, Romania
Consortium Coordinator, ECYBRIDGE
Panellists:
Ambassador Lucian Fatu
President, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre
Mr Luca Tagliaretti
Executive Director, European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC)
Col Danut Tiganus
Communications and Information Technology Deputy Director (CIO), Defence Staff, Romanian Ministry of National Defence
Dr Velizar Shalamanov
Professor, Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (IICT), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences & Chairman of Academic Advisory Board of NATO CoE CMDR & Former Minister of Defence, Bulgaria
Dr Adrian Victor Vevera
General Director, National Institute for Research & Development in Informatics, ICI Bucharest
10:45 - 11:00 Am: Coffee Break
11:00 - 11:30 Am
Keynote Speech
Speaker:
Dr Velizar Shalamanov
Professor, Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (IICT), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences & Chairman of Academic Advisory Board of NATO CoE CMDR & Former Minister of Defence, Bulgaria
11:30 Am - 1:00 Pm
Panel 2
Navigating EU Cybersecurity Policy Challenges: Governance Gaps, Strategic Coherence, and Civilian-Defence Synergies
Chair:
Mr Iulian Alecu
Strategic Business Developer, Safetech Innovation & Former Deputy General Director of the Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate
Panellists:
Ms Ana Maria Busoniu
General Director, National Coordination Centre NCC-RO & General Director, Authority for Digitalisation of Romania – OIPSI
Captain (Navy) Professor Miroslav Tsvetkov
Deputy Chief of Educational and Scientific Activities, Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Bulgaria
Captain (Navy) (ret) Helder Fialho Jesus
Vice-President, Observatory of Digital Ecosystems and Infrastructures (OEID) & Former Head of the Cyber Defence Centre, Portugal
Lt Col David Antunes
Cyber Defence Programme Manager, European Defence Agency
Col. (ret) Professor Ion Roceanu
National Defence University, Romania
Ms Eliza Vas
Coordinator, Studies Unit, European Affairs Department, European Institute of Romania
Col. Professor Ion Bica
Dean, Faculty of Information Systems and Cyber Security, Military Technical Academy, Romania
1:00 Pm - 2:00 Pm
Lunch Break
2:00 Pm - 2:25 Pm
Project Presentation 1
TrustBoost-Safetech Innovations: Strategic Partener in Strengthening the European Cybersecurity System
Dr Emil Simion
Cybersecurity Expert, Safetech Innovations & Associate Professor, National University of Science and Technology “Politehnica”
2:25 Pm - 2:50 Pm
Project Presentation 2
Cyresrange
Professor Gabriel Raicu
Rector, Constanta Maritime University & Project Director, Cyresrange
2:50 Pm - 3:20 Pm
Keynote Speech
Professor Iulian Chifu
President of the Conflict Prevention and Early Warning Centre, Bucharest & Former Advisor to the Romanian President
3:20 Pm - 3:50 Pm
Keynote Speech
Ms Ana Maria Busoniu
General Director, National Coordination Centre NCC-RO
3:50 - 4:00 Pm: Coffee Break
4:00 Pm - 5:00 Pm
Workshop 1 - Dual-Use Technology: AI-Powered Threat Detection and Response
Lead:
Mr Iulian Alecu
Strategic Business Developer, Safetech Innovation & Former Deputy General Director of the Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate
Dr Maria Gurau
Expert, Maritime Cyber Security Centre of Excellence, Constanta Maritime University
5:00 Pm - 5:20 Pm
ECYBRIDGE WHITE PAPER Key Findings - Comprehensive Cybersecurity Insights: Reflections and Recommendations on Current Cybersecurity Dynamics in EU
Speaker:
Dr Valeria Popescu
Senior Cyber Security Coordinator, Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate
5:20 Pm - 5:30 Pm
Day 1 Wrap-Up
Dr Niculae Iancu
Consortium Coordinator, ECYBRIDGE
Day 2
10 Dec, 2025
08:45 Am
Welcoming Day 2
09:00 - 10:30 Am
Panel 3
Advancing Cybersecurity Through Technology: Innovation, Deployment, and European Strategic Autonomy
Hosted by Tallinn Maritime Academy in Tallinn, Estonia
Chair:
Professor Sanja Bauk
ERA Chair Holder of the MariCybERA project at the Estonian Maritime Academy (TalTech)
Panellists:
Professor Rain Ottis
Head of the Centre for Digital Forensics and Cyber Security, TalTech Department of Software Science
Mr Gabor Visky
Cyber Security Engineer, TalTech Estonian Maritime Academy
Mr Dan Heering
Expert, Centre for Maritime Cybersecurity, Estonian Maritime Academy
Mr Ricardo Gregorio Lugo
Senior Researcher, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonian Maritime Academy & Østfold University College, Department of Welfare, Management and Organisation
10:30 - 10:55 Am
Mitigating future threats in a Unified Digital Europe
ECYBRIDGE TTX Key Findings
Dr Marilena-Jeana Cîmpineanu
Director, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre
Ms Gabriela Matei
Expert, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre
Mr Valentin Ene
Expert, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre
10:55 - 11:20 Am
Harmonising Cybersecurity: Bridging Civilian and Defence Paradigms
ECYBRIDGE WORKSHOP Key Findings
Dr Alexandru Georgescu
Senior Researcher, National Institute for Research & Development in Informatics – ICI Bucharest
11:20 - 11:30 Am: Coffee Break
11:30 Am - 1:00 Pm
Panel 4
Strengthening Europe’s Cybersecurity Workforce: Skills, Education, and Cross-Sector Readiness
Hosted by Antwerp Maritime Academy in Antwerp, Belgium
Chair:
Mr Yves Van Seters
Valorisation Manager, Antwerp Maritime Academy
Panellists:
Ms Noëmie Honore
Associate Partner, WAVESTONE
Professor Georges Ataya
Academic Director, Digital Governance and Trust, Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management
Mr David De Roock
CIO, Exmar
Mr Joost Daem
Founder and CEO, Secamo & Chairman of ISAC Port of Antwerp-Bruge
1:00 Pm - 2:00 Pm
Lunch Break
2:00 Pm - 2:15 Pm
Technology Presentation 3
Mr Bogdan George Carp
Programs Manager @CyberEDU, BIT SENTINEL
2:15 Pm - 2:30 Pm
Technology Presentation 4
Mr Teodor Fuica
Solutions Consultant, PALO ALTO Romania
2:30 Pm - 3:00 Pm
Keynote Speech
Speaker:
Ms Rocio Cecilia Ortiz Moreno
Deputy Director, Future Industries at the Innovation Centre of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile & Executive Director, Cyberdefense Laboratory for Critical Infrastructures Protection (Ciberlab)
3:00 Pm - 3:30 Pm
Keynote Speech
Speaker:
Captain (Navy) (ret) Helder Fialho Jesus
Vice-President, Observatory of Digital Ecosystems and Infrastructures (OEID) & Former Head of the Cyber Defence Centre, Portugal
3:30 - 3:45 Pm: Coffee Break
3:45 Pm - 4:45 Pm
Workshop 2 - AI - Enhanced Cyber Defence for Critical Infrastructure
Mr Dan Gavojdea
Regional Manager, Business Development SecOps | CISSP @FORTINET
4:45 Pm - 5:00 Pm
Wrap-Up Day 2
Dr Niculae Iancu
Consortium Coordinator, ECYBRIDGE
Day 3
11 Dec, 2025
08:45 Am
Welcoming Day 3
09:00 - 10:30 Am
Panel 5
Countering Cybercrime in the European Union: Enhancing Cooperation Across Jurisdictions and Sectors
Chair:
Professor Vasile Draghici
”OVIDIUS” University of Constanta & Member of the Board of Directors, Maritime Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, Constanta Maritime University
Panellists:
Prof.habil Constantin Duvac
Bucharest University of Economic Studies & President, Romanian Association of Criminal Sciences
Senior Lecturer Remus Jurj, Ph.D
Constanta Maritime University & Member of the Board of Directors, Maritime Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence
Senior Lecturer Dimitar Nikolov, PhD
Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Bulgaria
Senior Lecturer Ilyian Iliev
Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Bulgaria
Researcher Dimitar Dimitrov
Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Bulgaria
10:30 - 10:45 Am: Coffee Break
10:30 - 10:45 Am: Coffee Break
10:45 - 11:30 Am
Panel 6
Cooperation and Competition in the Euro-Atlantic Dual-Use Technology Innovation
Chair:
Dr Valeria Popescu
Senior Cyber Security Coordinator, The Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate
Panellists:
Dr Dragoș Ionică
Senior Manager, Deloitte
Dr Daniel Dumitrescu
Chief Innovation Officer, InnovX
Mr Matei Anthony Josephs
Founder, HiveHack & General Director, Concept Electronics & Associate Researcher, Constanta Maritime University
Mr Iulian Schifirneț
Offensive Team Lead and Trainer, Data Core Systems
11:30 Am - 1:00 Pm
Panel 7
Hybrid Conflict Dynamics and National Cyber Readiness: Capabilities, Cross-Sector Resilience and Strategic Coordination for a Secure Europe
Chair:
Mr Matei Anthony Josephs
Founder, HiveHack & General Director, Concept Electronics & Associate Researcher, Constanta Maritime University
Panellists:
Mr Stelian Cristea
Deputy Director, Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate
Professor Gabriel Raicu
Rector, Constanta Maritime University
Dr Mircea Scheau
Cybersecurity Expert, Constanta Maritime University
Mr Adrian Marinescu
Director of Technology Consulting Department, EY Romania
Dr Niculae Iancu
Consortium Coordinator, ECYBRIDGE
1:00 Pm - 2:00 Pm
Lunch Break
2:00 - 3:30 Pm
Workshop 3
Countering Hybrid Operations: A National Information Early-Warning System
Lead:
Mr Matei Anthony Josephs
Founder, HiveHack & General Director, Concept Electronics & Associate Researcher, Constanta Maritime University
3:30 Pm - 4:00 Pm
Closing Remarks
Professor Gabriel Raicu
Rector, Constanta Maritime University
Mr Ionut Stoica
ECYBRIDGE Project Officer, ECCC
Dr Niculae Iancu
Consortium Coordinator, ECYBRIDGE
About The Event Organiser
MARCYSCOE is a centre of the Constanta Maritime University, aiming to enhance the cybersecurity resilience of the maritime industry through cutting-edge research, expert advice, training, and education. We strive to provide cybersecurity services to public and private organisations in the maritime sector and create an international platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing among cybersecurity professionals. Our goal is to promote safe and secure maritime operations and protect the integrity of critical maritime infrastructure and assets
Venue
The Nautical Base of the Constanta Maritime University
No. 2 Cuarțului Street, Constanta, Romania, 900504
Registration closed – conference fully booked