First Ever Cybersecurity Skills Summit
The Youth IGF has come up with the idea of organising the first ever European Cybersecurity Skills Summit. Microsoft Corporation is the diamond sponsor of the event.
“Switzerland is committed to a free, secure and open cyberspace that is useful for peaceful purposed and is based on clear rules and mutual trust. We adhere to the principle that international law must also be applied in cyberspace. For a cyberspace that entails those values, a solid cybersecurity education is the key element of success.” says Daniel W. Seiler, Deputy Head of the Office of the Special Envoy for Cyber Foreign and Security Policy, Bern.
The first ever European Cybersecurity Skills Summit took place on 19–20 May, 2021 in a virtual format. Major industry leaders and policy-makers, as well as youth representatives, attended the event. The opening talk was joined by Daniel W. SEILER from the Swiss Office of the Special Envoy for Cyber Foreign and Security Policy, Despina SPANOU the Head of Cabinet of the EU Vice-President Margaritis SCHINAS, the Microsoft Vice President Casper KLYNGE, Stephen BEREAUX the ITU BDT Deputy Director and Emil IVOV, the Founder of Jitsi.
The idea of the Summit is based on recommendations that emerged from a large consultation led by the Youth IGF in 2020. It involved youth, business and policy actors that tried to understand the cybersecurity market, its challenges and approaches in addressing the cybersecurity skills gap in Europe.
The Summit supports the Paris Call and the implementation of the National strategy for the protection of Switzerland against cyber risks. The Summit also supports the implementation of the European Skills Agenda, as a part of Europe’s Digital Decade, to ensure that people have the right skills for jobs.
The Summit contributes to forming a virtual cybersecurity hub in Europe.
The main goal of the Summit is to create better opportunities for young people in the cybersecurity area by helping to eliminate the cybersecurity skills gap
“For this reason, the Youth IGF aims to ensure that young professionals are active in the field of cybersecurity skills and proposes to create with the European Cybersecurity Skills Summit a real global virtual cybersecurity hub based in Europe - says Yuliya Morenets, Youth IGF Founder.
