Leitmotif 2022
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The past few weeks filled with anxiety, instability, and unprecedented acts of aggression, have shown us the importance of unity and joint action. Finding integrity and common understanding allowed us to provide necessary aid to Ukraine, both diplomatically and strategically. This unwavering position has to be maintained and paired up with even more support to our partners, neighbours and fellow democracies – also within and in regard to cyberspace, which once again has turned into a battlefield. It is clear now, that our decisions and initiatives regarding increasinag the resilience and security of our IT and OT systems, as well as the international cooperation, will define our future. CYBERSEC Team is ready to participate in that process, by once again building a platform for dialogue, partnerships and taking action. -
The program of the 2-day conference and accompanying events will include presentations, talks, panel discussions and workshops featuring high-level representatives of international institutions and organizations, public administration and the private sector. Formats will be devoted to the most relevant cybersecurity issues, such as the international cooperation in times of crisis, the role of cyberspace in modern warfare, the security of digital infrastructure, the implementation of artificial intelligence for public good, the development of 6G technology, and many others.
CYBERSEC FORUM/EXPO is a unique event – a combination of debates on the most critical strategic challenges regarding cybersecurity and an EXPO dedicated to the cyber industry in Poland, Europe and rest of the world. It will be a continuation of the format initiated in 2019, also in Katowice, which overarching goal is to create opportunities for meetings – business and networking, as well as debates and workshops.
The upcoming event will be the 16th edition under the brand of CYBERSEC! We want to emphasize the importance of cybersecurity in every industry, educate, boost market cooperation and talk about the biggest challenges for the market. The event is co-organized by the Kosciuszko Institute and the Cyber Made in Poland Cluster.
CYBERSEC FORUM/EXPO 2022 will follow five thematic streams: STATE, DEFENCE, BUSINESS, FUTURE and a special stream dedicated to the EU.
5 Thematic Streams
The Russian invasion of Ukraine prompted the international community to provide necessary aid to Ukraine and support the country both diplomatically and strategically. Efforts led by the EU and NATO would not have been possible without reaching common understanding and taking joint action, which ultimately proves that power lies in unity. This applies also to cyberspace, as it has once again turned into a battlefield, underlining the importance of increased resilience and security of the entire cyber ecosystem. Within the STATE stream, our experts are going to discuss the challenges for modern states in times of crisis.
Leading up to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, cyberspace has turned into a battleground of constant hostile attacks and Ukrainian cyber defence actions. This new context keeps unfolding, as ongoing activities in the cyber domain raise questions about the nature and strategic importance of cyber for modern armed conflicts. Despite many predictions, so far we have not brought any large-scale cyberattacks that could be assessed as being a game changer or has a significant strategic impact on the military actions. During the DEFENCE stream we will discuss the critical importance of cyber capabilities in deterrence and defence, so the allies remain united in cyberpower.
Advanced digitalization requires the highest possible levels of cybersecurity of physical and virtual components of digital infrastructure and applied technologies that build and support the very functioning of our states, economies, and societies. And cybersecurity is a team game – without adequate engagement from governments, companies and the civil society, no country or alliance can ever become a cyberpower. During the BUSINESS stream we will focus on the role and responsibility of private sector in this interconnected ecosystem.
In a rapidly evolving cyberspace, the trends of tomorrow are swiftly transforming into the realities of today. The overarching idea behind this stream is to shorten the feedback loop between the implementation of modern solutions that have a huge and uncontrolled impact on society, and their evaluation by experts and decision-makers. Therefore, artificial intelligence algorithms that should be implemented to improve the wellbeing of citizens will be discussed, as will the fast-approaching 6G technology and the blur of physical reality with digital reality, which many describe as the future of human-technology interaction. It is a necessity to prepare responsibly for the inevitable arrival of these technologies and to face the questions, doubts and obstacles to their implementation. This year’s FUTURE stream will discuss both future applications of the technologies that already surround us and those that are still emerging.
The European Union steadily increases its cyber capabilities and openly voices its ambitions to become a global security actor. This process commenced in the last decade, which marked an unprecedented shift from a primarily economic (or market) power, towards a more geopolitical entity. The EU emphasizes a vivid need to become strategically autonomous and to step up its role in a security-driven cooperation with NATO. Since 2020, it has outlined a few key institutional and legal developments to be implemented in the following years. From the envisaged establishment of a joint cyber unit, through an adoption of the cyber resilience act, to a new Strategic Compass, the EU gradually unravels its plan to secure its newfound smart power. These steps reflect the idea of what the EU strives to be, but also indicate its potential of becoming a global political and security actor – which will be the focal point if the EU stream.
Programme Committee ’22
James Appathurai
Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, NATO
Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, NATO
Tadeusz Chomicki
Ambassador for Cyber & Tech Affairs, Security Policy Department, Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ambassador for Cyber & Tech Affairs, Security Policy Department, Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dan Cimpean
Director, Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate
Director, Romanian National Cyber Security Directorate
Ambassador Sorin Ducaru
Director, European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen); Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, NATO (2013-2017)
Director, European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen); Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, NATO (2013-2017)
Melissa Hathaway
President, Hathaway Global Strategies, LLC; Former Cybersecurity Advisor, George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations; Expert of the Kosciuszko Institute
President, Hathaway Global Strategies, LLC; Former Cybersecurity Advisor, George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations; Expert of the Kosciuszko Institute
Ciaran Martin
Professor of Practice, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford; Former Chief Executive Office, National Cyber Security Centre of the UK (2016-2020)
Professor of Practice, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford; Former Chief Executive Office, National Cyber Security Centre of the UK (2016-2020)
Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones
Senior Advisor, Ridge-Schmidt Cyber; Former Minister of State for Security and Counter Terrorism of the UK
Senior Advisor, Ridge-Schmidt Cyber; Former Minister of State for Security and Counter Terrorism of the UK
Christhopher Painter
President, The Global Forum on Cyber Expertise; Commissioner, Global Commission on Stability of Cyberspace; Coordinator for Cyber Issues, U.S. State Department (2011-2017)
President, The Global Forum on Cyber Expertise; Commissioner, Global Commission on Stability of Cyberspace; Coordinator for Cyber Issues, U.S. State Department (2011-2017)
Luigi Rebuffi
Secretary General, European Cyber Security Organisation
Secretary General, European Cyber Security Organisation
Andrea G. Rodriguez
NATO 2030 Young Leader, CYBERSEC 2019 Young Leader; Research fellow, Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB); Associate Member, Observatory for the Social and Ethical Impact of Artificial Intelligence (OdiseIA)
NATO 2030 Young Leader, CYBERSEC 2019 Young Leader; Research fellow, Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB); Associate Member, Observatory for the Social and Ethical Impact of Artificial Intelligence (OdiseIA)
Max Smeets
Senior Researcher, Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich
Senior Researcher, Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich
Tomasz Zdzikot
Chairman, Group of Public Advisors to the MoD on Cybersecurity
Chairman, Group of Public Advisors to the MoD on Cybersecurity