On 17–18 February 2026, the WEM Cyber consortium gathered at the Bilişim Vadisi campus in Istanbul, Türkiye, for its official kick-off meeting. This was the first time all eight partner organisations met in person since the project launched in January 2026.
The meeting marked the beginning of a 36-month Horizon Europe project focused on strengthening women’s participation in cybersecurity and enhancing collaboration between academia and industry across Europe.
Bringing Together Europe’s Cybersecurity Partners
Hosted by Bilişim Vadisi, the two-day meeting brought together representatives from leading universities, organisations, and industry partners across seven European countries.
The consortium includes institutions such as the University of Maribor, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Université Paul Sabatier, Vilnius Tech, Boğaziçi University, and the Women4Cyber Foundation, alongside technology partners including UBITECH and several affiliated industry organisations.
This diverse partnership reflects the project’s ambition to build a strong, cross-sector cybersecurity ecosystem in Europe.
Defining the WEM Cyber Project Objectives
A key focus of the kick-off meeting was aligning on the project’s main objectives and implementation strategy.
One of the central pillars is the secondment programme, which will fund 37 placements across academia and industry. These placements are designed to promote knowledge exchange and provide participants with hands-on experience in cybersecurity environments.
In parallel, the project will deliver mentorship and coaching activities in partnership with the Women4Cyber Foundation, supporting women at different stages of their careers and helping them navigate the cybersecurity field.
The consortium also discussed the development of a personalised training programme, aimed at equipping participants with both technical expertise and professional skills. Complementing this, UBITECH will lead the creation of a knowledge transfer platform, ensuring that insights and expertise are shared effectively across partners and countries.
During the meeting, partners established working practices across the project’s five work packages and aligned on collaboration methods.
Discussions also covered the communication and dissemination strategy, with partners agreeing on how WEM Cyber will engage key audiences, including:
What Happens Next?
Following the kick-off meeting, WEM Cyber has now entered its first operational phase.
Preparations are currently underway for:
- the first call for secondments
- the launch of the mentorship programme cohort
- the rollout of training activities
These upcoming actions will mark the transition from planning to implementation, creating concrete opportunities for participants across Europe.
Why WEM Cyber Matters for Europe
WEM Cyber is more than a research project—it is a coordinated effort to address the gender gap in cybersecurity and strengthen Europe’s talent pipeline.
By combining mobility programmes, mentorship, training, and cross-sector collaboration, the project aims to create sustainable pathways for women in cybersecurity while boosting innovation and knowledge exchange across Europe.
