The Flanders Policy Plan Cybersecurity, launched on 22 March 2019 and extended on 22 March 2024 with an annual budget of €15 million, is a solid foundation to help protect the region against cyber threats.
Due to growing digitalisation, Flemish enterprises are more than ever at risk of falling victim to cybercriminals. It can happen to any business, both small SMEs and large multinationals, in any industry. In addition, reliability, robustness and security of digital technologies are essential to ensure business continuity. Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important for the development and implementation of new products and services. Consequently, investments in cybersecurity are a must if we are to establish a resilient digital economy in Flanders. That is why cybersecurity is a top priority for the Flemish Government.
With the Flanders Policy Plan Cybersecurity, the first cycle of which was approved on 22 March 2019, and the second cycle on 22 March 2024, Flanders aims to arm itself against the many challenges in the area of cybersecurity. Under the moniker Cybersecurity Flanders, the Flemish Government invests €15 million per year. The plan consists of three components that complement and reinforce each other.
1. Boosting top cybersecurity research in Flanders
Flanders is among the top regions in revelant cybersecurity domains, such as cryptography (encrypting information) and securing distributed systems (multiple individual computers connected by a network). The policy plan invests €9 million per year in strategic research centres and universities that conduct this research.
The cybersecurity research consortium Flanders is responsible for the basic research. Imec, KU Leuven, VUB and UGent are the 4 partners in this consortium, with KU Leuven acting as the coordinator.
The research consists of four long-term lines of research with ample room to explore new themes.
- Software and application security
- Critical security services for various platforms
- System and infrastructure security
- Technology building blocks: secure hardware, cryptography and secure communications
For the practical implementation, a road map is being prepared for each of these four lines of research. This road map will be validated on a regular basis by Flemish companies and international experts.
2. Encouraging businesses to use cybersecurity solutions
The number one priority of the policy plan is to boost the cybersecurity maturity of Flemish businesses through the use of innovative cybersecurity technologies. To support this ambition, the Flemish government has earmarked €6 million per year for the implementation component through the policy plan. This component is overseen by VLAIO.
To achieve this objective among Flemish businesses, VLAIO is taking an approach that focuses primarily on innovation leaders and technology providers. A key role is reserved for actors from the VLAIO network who inspire companies, raise awareness and inform them of the importance of cybersecurity. The aim? On the one hand supporting the transfer of results from the research programme to businesses and, on the other hand, promoting entrepreneurship in cybersecurity.
3. Raising awareness and training
Cybersecurity is not just about the implementation of innovative technologies. There is also a need for increased awareness and knowledge of cybersecurity among employees and the public at large. In addition to training IT specialists, this also involves honing basic competencies and skills among employees who have no prior knowledge of cybersecurity.
That is why the policy plan earmarks €600,000 per year for general awareness raising and training on cybersecurity. To this end, the Department of Economy, Science and Innovation and the Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship Agency (VLAIO) are joining forces with higher education institutions and other stakeholders from the VLAIO network.