ECYBRIDGE

International Conference

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.

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

Consortium Coordinator, ECYBRIDGE

Panellists: 

Ambassador Lucian Fatu

President, Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre 

Mr Luca Tagliaretti

Executive Director, European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC)

MajGen Adrian Brinza

Head of Communications and Informatics Command (CIO), MoND, Romania

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

Brig. Gen. Marian Tudose (TBC)

Chief of Cyber Defence Command, Romania

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) and Former Head of the Cyber Defence Command, Portugal

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

Lunch Time

2:00 Pm - 2:25 Pm

Technology Presentation 1

SAFETECH

2:25 Pm - 2:50 Pm

Technology Presentation 2

Constanta Maritime University

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

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, The 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

Gabor Visky

Cyber Security Engineer, TalTech Estonian Maritime Academy

Dan Heering

Expert, Centre for Maritime Cybersecurity, Estonian Maritime Academy

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

Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre

10:55 - 11:20 Am

Harmonising Cybersecurity: Bridging Civilian and Defence Paradigms

ECYBRIDGE WORKSHOP Key Findings

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

Antwerp Maritime Academy in Antwerp, Belgium

Chair: 

Mr Yves Van Seters

Valorisation Manager, Antwerp Maritime Academy

Panellists: 

Ms Noëmie Honore

Associate Partner, WAVESTONE

Mr Eric Van Cangh

Agoria/Cyber Made In Belgium

Professor Georges Ataya, PhD

Solvay Business School

Mr David De Roock

CIO, Exmar

Mr Jonas Maas

Cyber Defence Factory, HOWEST, Brugge

1:00 Pm

Lunch Time

2:00 Pm - 2:15 Pm

Technology Presentation 3

2:15 Pm - 2:30 Pm

Technology Presentation 4

2:30 Pm - 3:00 Pm

Keynote Speech

Speaker: 

Ms Rocio Cecilia Ortiz Moreno

Deputy Director of Future Industries at the Innovation Center of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile & Executive Director of the 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) and Former Head of the Cyber Defence Command, Portugal

3:30 - 3:45 Pm: Coffee Break
3:45 Pm - 4:45 Pm

Workshop 2 - Securing Critical Infrastructure with Quantum-Resilient Cryptography: A Practical Introduction

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

Member of the Board of Directors, Maritime Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence

09:00 - 10:30 Am

Special Parallel Session for Scientific Contributions

Chair: 

Dr Mircea Scheau

Cybersecurity Expert, Constanta Maritime University

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 Daniel Dumitrescu

Chief Innovation Officer, InnovX

11:30 Am - 1:00 Pm

Designing a Cyber-Resilient Europe: Strategic Alignment, Stakeholder Roles, and Operational Pathway

Session 1 – Strategic Objectives and Threat Prioritisation

Lead: 

Mr Matei Anthony Josephs

Founder, HiveHack & Associate Researcher, Constanta Maritime University

1:00 Pm

Lunch Time

2:00 - 3:30 Pm

Designing a Cyber-Resilient Europe: Strategic Alignment, Stakeholder Roles, and Operational Pathways

Session 2 – Operational Pathways and Political Consensus

Lead: 

Mr Matei Anthony Josephs

Founder, HiveHack & Associate Researcher, Constanta Maritime University

3:30 Pm - 4:00 Pm

Closing Panel

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