On 25 November 2025, Despina Spanou, Deputy Director-General for Communications, Networks, Content, and Technology (DG CNECT) at the European Commission, opened the first meeting of the Industry-Academia Network of the Cybersecurity Skills Academy. The Network, launched on 18 June 2025, aims to boost cooperation between industry and academia to address the cybersecurity skills and talent gap in the EU.
New pledges to boost cyber skills
At this Network meeting, the Commission announced two new pledges to the Academy.
First, Microsoft renewed its commitment to the Cybersecurity Skills Academy by offering to train 30 educators across higher education and vocational institutions of the Network. To kick-off this commitment, Microsoft introduced its upcoming Bootcamp for Educators at the meeting.
Secondly, Stormshield pledged to provide training to 100 educators by making technical and educational content available to members of the Network and providing personalised support.
Both aim to do this by the end of 2026.
In addition, the Commission welcomed three other pledgers who have joined the Academy since September:
- Root-Me PRO will offer a programme on cybersecurity to 5,000 European learners of the Industry-Academia Network by October 2027
- Oracle will provide learning paths, practical knowledge and support to 30,000 individuals across the EU by the end of 2028
- Kryndryl will provide resources to support cybersecurity education to 25,000 individuals across the EU by the end of March 2030
These actions, combined with pledges already made, are key to strengthening our collective cybersecurity and resilience in Europe.
New partnership under the Network
A new partnership under the Industry-Academia network was announced at the meeting between ISC2 and the vocational education and training provider CS VISOR to provide free access to a self-paced training and certification in cybersecurity for at least 250 learners.
Since the launch of the Network, there has been 8 other partnerships signed between industry and academia to promote collaboration, knowledge-exchange and joint initiatives aligned with the mission of the Network.
Background
The Cybersecurity Skills Academy, launched in 2023, aims to help enhance resilience and preparedness at all levels of the EU's cybersecurity ecosystem by providing a single point of entry for cybersecurity training offers as well as funding opportunities on the Commission’s Digital Skills and Jobs Platform.
It boosts action in a number of areas including:
- Fostering knowledge generation through education and training by working on a common language on cybersecurity role profiles and associated skills, enhancing the European education and training offer to meet the needs, building career pathways and providing visibility and clarity over cybersecurity trainings and certifications to enhance the supply side of the labour.
- Ensuring better channelling and visibility of available funding opportunities for skills-related activities in order to maximise their impact.
- Calling stakeholders to take action by making concrete cybersecurity pledges and integrating cybersecurity skills in their national strategies.
- Defining indicators to monitor the evolution of the market and to address better the needs on one hand, and on the other, the offer of trainings, as well as to better direct funds towards the needs.
Furthermore, since March 2024, the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform has hosted the Women4Cyber Network, a collaborative effort between the European Commission and the Women4Cyber Foundation, uniting skilled women in cybersecurity from various sectors and expertise levels. The network is open to professionals and newcomers into the field.