Earlier this week the Howest College of Higher Education in Bruges (West Flanders) inaugurated the first Cyber Defence Factory in our region. The Cyber Defence Factory marks the start of a new partnership between Howest and the Belgian military’s Cyber Command. The partnership will focus on advancing cybersecurity through joint projects, some of which will be directly linked to the Belgian Navy.
Howest College of Higher Education and Belgian military launch Flanders’ first Cyber Defence Factory
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Recently established as the fifth component of the Belgian Armed Forces, the Cyber Command is tasked with securing military networks and weapons systems, as well as waging electronic warfare.
The Cyber Defence Factory uses Howest’s academic expertise,particularly its bachelor’s programme in cybersecurity, to support Defence-led innovation.
The Belgian Navy
The Cyber Defence Factory is expected to play a key role at Zeebrugge, where the Belgian Navy is preparing for the arrival of next-generation minehunters that are equipped with advanced cyber defence technology.
Speaking at Tuesday’s launch the Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken (Flemish nationalist) said that “Research and innovation are priorities that are central to my project for the military. But these priorities must be structured around a strategy, the DIRS (Defence Industry Research Strategy). This is something that I wish to continue and strengthen,”
A response to modern warfare
The head of Cyber Command, Major General Michel Van Strythem, underlines the urgent need for the project in today’s geopolitical climate. “If we look at the war in Ukraine, we see that war is also being waged in cyberspace. This ranges from the use of drones to spreading fake news and to sabotaging cables”.
The project is also important for Howest. "We do not want to educate within the confines of an ivory tower. We strive to open ourselves up to broader society," Howest's Frederik D'hulster tolds journalists. "Cybersecurity is not a hype, but a necessity and talent is our first line of defence”.