“Our field thrives on knowledge-sharing within the community”
“We’ve spent the past few decades building deep cybersecurity expertise, particularly in the space sector. For instance, we supported the European Space Agency (ESA) in developing its cyber programme,” Desclée begins. “We believe this knowledge can offer significant value to the commercial world, so we made the strategic decision to split the company into two entities: Nexova and Starion. Nexova is now fully focused on cybersecurity services.”
In other words, Nexova is transferring its high-stakes expertise from space security to equally critical earthly domains. “Our highly specialised knowhow is in serious demand in any sector with a massive need for airtight security, such as healthcare, power plants, airports, etc.,” Desclée explains.
Belgium’s ecosystem as a driving force
CITEF is one concrete example of Nexova’s service to its clients. This flagship product is a sophisticated cybersecurity training environment powered by a digital twin of the client’s digital landscape. “We can literally simulate the entire information system of a nuclear power plant in a virtual environment,” says Desclée.
Nexova’s niche positioning strengthens Desclée’s appreciation of the Cyber Security Coalition. “Our field thrives on knowledge-sharing within the community, and the Coalition is an essential tool to enable that, explaining why we’ve been actively involved in several focus groups for years; groups that have consistently proven their worth to us.”
Desclée is quick to underline the immense value of the broader ecosystem. “All too often in Belgium we underestimate ourselves. But in both the space sector and in cybersecurity, we’re clearly ahead of the curve. Just look at the world-renowned reputation of universities such as KU Leuven and UCLouvain in encryption research, or the fact that Belgium was the first country to implement the new NIS2 Directive into national law. Our growth as a company is undeniably linked to the dynamic synergy we share with this vibrant community.”
A new era on the horizon
The importance of this leadership role is only set to grow in the coming years. “We’re on the cusp of an entirely new era in tech and security, as fields including AI and quantum computing evolve at unprecedented speed,” he continues. “In that landscape, a healthy ecosystem will become even more crucial, especially for attracting and developing talent, which is arguably the single biggest challenge our sector is facing.”
In this new reality, the importance of knowledge-sharing and investing in the ecosystem, particularly through the Coalition, will increase even further. “That’s precisely why we want to reinforce our commitment to the Coalition even more visibly. We offer them the use of our premises, for instance. Providing access to our modern and extremely secure facilities – designed by the same architects behind NATO’s new buildings– is a clear expression of our belief in the Coalition’s role as a cornerstone of Belgium’s cybersecurity future,” Desclée concludes.
