Europe mobilises cyber talent: New pledges and collaborations announced
The Cybersecurity Skills Academy is strengthening Europe’s cybersecurity talent pipeline with a new wave of commitments from industry partners and fresh collaborations. The latest pledges are being published in concert with its Industry-Academia Network meeting on 25 November.
The Industry-Academia Network of the Cybersecurity Skills Academy aims to build concrete collaborations and set up partnerships amongst its members (key actors from industry and academia), to be interdisciplinary and able to respond to all skillsets cybersecurity roles call for, and ultimately to grow the continent’s cyber workforce.
The meeting allowed to update members on developments since the last meeting in April 2025, including the official launch of the Network in June, to share plans for its future, and to highlight its partnerships and collaborations. It also enabled members to present their own opportunities and partnerships, and for Microsoft to introduce their new pledge under the Academy: the Bootcamp for Educators.
A growing and evolving network of partnerships
The meeting was opened by Despina Spanou, Deputy Director-General of DG CNECT. Microsoft’s Bootcamp for Educators featured remarks from Nanna-Louise Linde, Vice-President for Microsoft European Government Affairs followed by a presentation of this exclusive Bootcamp by Patrick Kersten, CEO and co-founder of the Leading Learning Partners Association (LLPA, Microsoft’s partner organisation).
The session reviewed progress, including the Network’s official launch in June and its evolving membership and collaborations. Members presented their partnership offers and opportunities before Microsoft lead an introductory session of its new Bootcamp for Educators.
Since June 2025, the Network has already supported eight partnerships. A ninth partnership, signed on 30 October between ISC2 and CS VISOR, has just been announced. Through this collaboration, at least 250 German vocational learners will gain free access to ISC2’s Certified in Cybersecurity training and exam, reinforcing the Academy’s mission to broaden access to high-quality cybersecurity learning pathways.
Industry pledges to support digital skills development in Europe
Pledgers are companies that have formally committed to narrowing the cybersecurity skills gap across the European Union. The Academy now counts 20 pledgers, including two that directly support the Industry-Academia Network:
- Microsoft has committed to training 30 educators from higher education and vocational institutions within the Network by the end of 2026, empowering them to deliver cybersecurity skills to learners across Europe.
- Stormshield will partner with academic members of the Network and provide training, pedagogical content, and online sessions to 100 teachers by December 2026.
These commitments follow additional pledges made since September:
- Root-Me PRO will offer a hands-on programme introducing key cybersecurity domains to 5,000 European learners by October 2027.
- Oracle has pledged to deliver multilingual cloud security training to 30,000 individuals across the EU by the end of 2028, aiming to strengthen practical cybersecurity competencies.
- Kyndryl will support cybersecurity education for 25,000 people (particularly in underserved communities) through grants from the Kyndryl Foundation by March 2030.
Further information
Discover the pledges and the Industry-Academia Network of the Cybersecurity Skills Academy on the Digital Skills & Jobs Platform.
Are you a business, a higher education institution, a European Universities alliance, or a training provider? Get inspired, involved – and play an active role in bridging the cyber skills and talent gap in Europe!
