‘We will further expand our network and stimulate even more collaborations’
Belgium was one of the first European countries to establish an innovative triple helix collaboration between the private sector, government, and academia with the Coalition’s inception in 2015. The 10th anniversary was celebrated yesterday in Brussels, attended by leading cybersecurity experts, policymakers, researchers, and professionals.
‘The importance of cooperation between the private, public, and academic sectors cannot be overstated. It is this united front that allows us to stay ahead in the fight against ever-evolving cyber threats and build a secure digital future,’ emphasises Miguel De Bruycker, Managing Director General of the Centre for Cyber Security Belgium (CCB), the federal agency responsible for designing and coordinating Belgium’s cyber strategy. ‘The Cyber Security Coalition is living proof of the power of this partnership, and the CCB, as Belgium’s National Coordination Centre, remains committed to strengthening our collective resilience together with this dynamic community.’
“Every week, companies face over 1,000 cyberattacks, making cybersecurity a critical and costly part of their daily operations. As threats continue to evolve, businesses must stay vigilant. As a founding member of the Coalition, FEB is committed to being an active partner in the fight against cyber threats,” adds Pieter Timmermans, CEO of the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB).
Five priorities for the coming years
While the Coalition continues to grow, its mission remains unchanged: strengthening cyber resilience through awareness, networking, and knowledge sharing. Chairman Jan De Blauwe states: ‘In the coming years, we aim to further expand our network, particularly in key industries such as the chemical, pharmaceutical, and logistics sectors—areas that are currently underrepresented in our community.’
To make Belgium even stronger and more resilient, the Cyber Security Coalition has identified five key priorities for the coming years:
- Protecting our democracy remains a top priority. In an era of increasing cyber threats and disinformation, we must secure our institutions and democratic processes. This requires enhanced incident response at all levels—within government, public institutions, and critical sectors. Only through swift and coordinated action can we effectively counter cyberattacks.
- Targeted investments in cybersecurity expertise are essential in both academia and the private sector to ensure Belgium possesses the necessary knowledge and resources to protect products and services in line with international standards.
- Closer collaboration between research, industry, and government will drive innovation and reduce our dependence on foreign technologies. Additionally, we must support start-ups and promote innovation through strategic public procurement and closer cooperation with EU partners.
- Staying ahead in emerging technologies is crucial. AI and quantum computing are dramatically transforming the threat landscape for businesses and government services. We must therefore develop a national cryptography strategy, with a focus on crypto-agility and a smooth transition to post-quantum cryptography, in close collaboration with the European cybersecurity agency ENISA.
- Comprehensive protection of the supply chain is necessary. Vulnerabilities in a single link can endanger entire networks. Therefore, it is crucial to support SMEs in strengthening their cyber resilience. Targeted awareness campaigns, smart procurement strategies, and closer cooperation with EU partners will play a key role in this effort.
‘By focusing on these strategic pillars, we are positioning Belgium as a leader in cybersecurity. We are building a digital environment that is not only resilient but also progressive, innovative, and secure. The challenges are great, but together we have the expertise, vision, and determination to tackle them,’ concludes Jan De Blauwe, Chairman of the Cyber Security Coalition.
About the Cyber Security Coalition:
The mission of the Cyber Security Coalition is to strengthen Belgium’s cyber resilience by building a robust national cybersecurity ecosystem. This is achieved by bringing together the expertise of academia, businesses, and government on a trust-based platform focused on promoting information sharing, operational peer-to-peer collaboration, formulating recommendations for more effective policies and guidelines, and ultimately conducting joint awareness campaigns for citizens and organisations. More than 1,000 representatives from our 199 member organisations participate in our activities and contribute to our mission.
