Centre for Security and Digitalisation (CVD) and Security Delta (HSD) Join Forces

Security Delta (HSD) and the Centre for Security and Digitalisation (CVD) are joining forces to strengthen the execution power in the field of cybersecurity labour market issues and to increase the cyber resilience of the Netherlands. The signing of the collaboration agreement by directors Ben Kokkeler (CVD) and Joris den Bruinen (HSD) took place 29 June during the 10th anniversary of the Dutch security cluster Security Delta.

Digital security, labour market and innovation

Central to the collaboration are three themes: addressing labour market issues, innovation and technology, and talent development for digital security. The organisations will work together on these issues. By analysing relevant developments, executing programmes, and acting as a source of information for the central government, provinces, and local governments. HSD and CVD will also jointly organise network meetings and (knowledge) events in the field of digital security.

Education and (re)training

"Knowledge sharing and education on cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important in our digitising society," said Ben Kokkeler. "Realising digitally secure workplaces and secure coordination between SMEs in networks and supply chains requires structural cooperation in public-private consortia. For this, it is important that workplace learning and practical learning are central and well embedded in practical research to make use of the latest insights. The interplay between municipalities, inspectorates, security regions and police also face major challenges in staying ahead of cybercriminals. With the ultimate goal: a more resilient and safer Netherlands."

Joris den Bruinen: "The focus of our collaboration is on knowledge exchange, applying lessons learned back and forth, and collaborating on regional and national implementation programmes. This creates opportunities to roll out initiatives more broadly and gives more implementation power to meet cybersecurity challenges. Of course, this also requires funding. Such as from the National Growth Fund, where the regional talent project "IT Verband Zuid-Holland" recently received funding of 7.1 million to implement various education and training projects. Other programmes with similar ambition, in which HSD and CVD act as partners, are also in the pipeline."

The collaboration between CVD and HSD is supported by the municipalities of The Hague and Apeldoorn. To this end, Ton Heerts, mayor of Apeldoorn and Saskia Bruines, deputy mayor of The Hague signed a declaration of support on 29 June.

Read the press release in Dutch here.