Last week, the WEM Cyber consortium gathered in Athens for its second plenary meeting since the project’s kick-off in January. Hosted by UBITECH, the two-day meeting brought together partners to discuss ongoing activities and align on the next phase of this Horizon Europe initiative.
As WEM Cyber continues to advance its mission of strengthening cybersecurity skills and employability, the meeting provided an important opportunity to reflect on progress made so far while looking ahead to the activities that will define the coming months.
Bringing the Consortium Together
Over two days, partners presented updates covering project management, academia-industry secondments, communication and dissemination activities, as well as ethics and gender-related actions.
The discussions highlighted the progress achieved since the project’s launch and demonstrated the strength of collaboration across the consortium. Beyond reviewing activities, the meeting created space for partners to exchange ideas and ensure that efforts across the project remain aligned.
Spotlight on the WEM Cyber Secondment Programme
As one of the project’s flagship activities, the secondments will provide participants with opportunities to gain experience, develop new skills, and expand their networks. For participating organisations, they offer a valuable mechanism for knowledge exchange and closer collaboration between sectors.
Building on the launch of the first secondment call, partners discussed implementation plans, expectations, and how the programme can maximise benefits for both participants and host organisations.
As the first secondments begin, the conversation has naturally shifted from planning to implementation. The Athens meeting provided an opportunity for partners to discuss how to ensure a meaningful and rewarding experience for participants while maximising the long-term value of the programme for the wider consortium.
Strengthening Cybersecurity Skills and Employability
Beyond the secondment programme, partners discussed upcoming activities designed to support skills development and professional growth of our secondees.
Particular attention was given to how these activities can complement programme, creating additional opportunities for learning, networking, and career development for participants across the consortium.
As WEM Cyber moves into its implementation phase, ensuring that project activities deliver practical value and respond to the evolving needs of the cybersecurity workforce remains a key priority for all partners.
Looking Ahead
The plenary concluded with a shared sense of momentum and a clear vision for the next phase of the project.
With the first secondments now underway and activities continuing to expand across all work packages, WEM Cyber is entering an exciting stage of implementation. The coming months will see partners build on the foundations established since January.
We would like to thank all consortium partners for their active participation and valuable contributions throughout the meeting, and extend our sincere thanks to UBITECH for their warm hospitality and excellent organisation.
We look forward to sharing further updates as the WEM Cyber secondment programme progresses and new project activities continue to unfold.
