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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Promoting young talent and acting as a training ground for the next generation in the field of cybersecurity and trustworthy artificial intelligence are core missions of the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security. The launch of the CISPA European Cybersecurity & AI Hackathon Championship adds another facet to this mission. The Championship—taking place between November 2025 and June 2026 across major university cities in Europe—is a bold, continent-wide initiative to shape a secure digital future by energizing and attracting Europe’s brightest young minds.
“The CISPA European Cybersecurity & AI Hackathon Championship is part of CISPA’s commitment to increasing Europe’s role as a global hub for excellence in cybersecurity and trustworthy AI. It is also a strategic initiative that aimes to secure Europe’s AI future by identifying and supporting the next generation of cybersecurity talent. As technology continues to shape our world, expertise in AI and cybersecurity is becoming increasingly valuable,” explain CISPA Faculty Dr. Adam Dziedzic and Dr. Franziska Boenisch. Together, they developed the concept of the Championship to raise awareness of the need for trustworthy AI and increase interest in AI research, development and security.
Shaping the Future AI Workforce for Europe
“This new initiative is about empowering young researchers to rise to the defining technological challenge of our time,” explains Faith Blakemore, Head of International Affairs and Science Relations at CISPA, who leads the organization of the event. “Through this initiative, we are building a pan-European community fluent in both AI and cybersecurity—one that values collaboration, innovation, and digital resilience. We want to develop the skills and capacities needed to tackle our grand challenges in these fields.” The hackathon aims to identify young scientific talent, recruit future PhD candidates, and help create the future AI workforce for Europe. It is planned as a regularly recurring event format that will strengthen Europe’s position as a leader in cybersecurity and AI innovation.
A Mission Across Major European University Cities
The CISPA Championship will feature five regional 24-hour hackathons across major European university cities including Paris, Vienna, Stockholm, Warsaw, and Barcelona, culminating in a Grand Finale in St. Ingbert (Germany), the future home of CISPA. The hackathon welcomes Bachelor’s and Master’s students aged 18 and over to join and show their skills. Participants will compete in teams of four, tackling three technical challenges at the cutting edge of cybersecurity and AI. The challenges are provided by CISPA Faculty, all of whom are top-ranking researchers in their respective fields. The best teams will present their solutions to expert juries, with winners advancing to the final round.
Prestigious Awards and Research Opportunities
Winners of each regional round will receive certificates and sponsorship to attend the Grand Finale in Germany, including travel and accommodation. Prize money totaling €12,000 will be awarded to the winning teams. The overall champions will receive a €4,000 cash prize and commemorative trophies. Additional finalists will receive monetary prizes, certificates, and official recognition. Registration for the regional hackathons is now open.
https://cispa.de/en/cispa-hackathon-championship
CISPA Faculty Dr. Adam Dziedzic and Dr. Franziska Boenisch developed the concept of the Championship ...
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CISPA Faculty Dr. Adam Dziedzic and Dr. Franziska Boenisch developed the concept of the Championship ...
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