Strengthening Europe’s Cyber Future: ECSO Award Finals 2025

On 21 and 22 May, the ECSO Award Finals 2025, a two-day event celebrating excellence and innovation in European cybersecurity, were held at the HSD Campus. The event, part of HSD’s Access to Capital initiative, was co-organised by ECSO, InnovationQuarter, TIN Capital, KPN Ventures, the City of The Hague, Women4Cyber, and Security Delta (HSD). This collaboration provided cybersecurity entrepreneurs a vital platform to meet and network with investors, alongside matchmaking opportunities with leading cybersecurity firms from across Europe and beyond. 

Day 1 featured the ECSO STARtup Award, where some of Europe’s most promising early-stage cybersecurity companies pitched their solutions to a jury of investors and experts. The day focused on scaling innovation and fostering access to finance, with targeted matchmaking between startups and key market players.  After a day of high-level pitches, Xiphera Ltd. was chosen by the expert judging panel as this year’s top innovator in European cybersecurity.

Day 2 culminated in the ECSO CISO Choice Award, where six scale-ups, selected throughout 2024 at various European cybersecurity events, competed for recognition by a jury composed mostly of CISOs from across Europe. These companies presented their most market-ready and innovative solutions to a packed audience of decision-makers and experts, where Labyrinth was ultimately selected as the winner of this year’s award.

A highlight of the second day was the keynote address by Mr. Ruben Brekelmans, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands, who shared his vision on strengthening Europe’s digital resilience in an increasingly volatile world.

"Let’s be bold, let’s be fast — and above all, let’s be united. Cybersecurity made in Europe should not just be a slogan, but should become a global standard."

 

The ECSO Award Finals 2025 not only showcased European innovation but also strengthened the ecosystem by facilitating meaningful connections between cybersecurity companies, investors, and end-users. As cybersecurity threats grow in complexity, initiatives like these help accelerate Europe’s strategic autonomy and digital resilience.