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ABOUT CISPA

The Helmholtz Center for Information Security is a German national Big Science Institution within the Helmholtz Association. Its research agenda encompasses all aspects of Information Security. With its ongoing growth, CISPA will soon have the critical mass of researchers (800+) to provide a comprehensive, holistic treatment of the pressing grand Cybersecurity and Privacy research challenges that our society faces in the age of digitalization.

 

CISPA seeks to play a prominent international role in research, transfer, and innovation by combining cutting-edge, often disruptive foundational research with innovative application-oriented research, corresponding technology transfer, and societal outreach. Thematically, it strives to cover the full spectrum from theory to empirical research. It is deeply grounded in computer science and works interdisciplinarily with researchers in adjacent fields such as medicine, law, and the social sciences.

CISPA is committed to the highest international academic standards. We offer a world-class research environment that grants extensive resources to a wide range of researchers and constitutes an attractive destination for the best talents and scientists from all countries. Moreover, we strongly support undergraduate and graduate education of Cybersecurity students, and we seek to become an elite training ground for the next generation of Cybersecurity experts and scientific leaders in this field.

When our center was founded in 2011, "CISPA" stood for „Center for IT-Security, Privacy and Accountability”. In the meantime, CISPA has become established as a proper name. CISPA is based in Saarbrücken, in close proximity to both France and Luxemburg, which is the ideal location for regional as well as cross-border cooperations with other research institutes.

CISPA started out with one mission: to reinvent the digitalized world of the future from the ground up and make it safer through innovative cutting-edge research.

1

We provide a comprehensive, holistic treatment of the pressing grand challenges in Cybersecurity and Privacy research that our society faces in the age of digitalization.

2

We assume a prominent international role in the field of Cybersecurity and Privacy research, pertaining to both cutting-edge foundational and application-oriented research.

3

We are committed to the highest international academic standards.

4

We offer a world-class research environment that grants extensive resources to a wide range of researchers and constitutes an attractive destination for the best talents and scientists from all countries.

5

We seek to become an elite training ground for the next generation of scientific leaders and innovators in Cybersecurity and Privacy.

6

We achieve a considerable impact on the general public by means of technology transfer, support of start-up companies, and societal outreach.

LEADERSHIP

Professor Michael Backes is the founding director of CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security. He is the chairman and the speaker of CISPA’s executive board.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael Backes
Founding Director & Chairman of the Executive Board

Dr. Kevin Streit has been the chief operating officer of the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security since November 1, 2021. The computer scientist has witnessed and also helped shape the development of the center from the very beginning.

Dr. Kevin Streit
COO

 



RELATED RESOURCES

KEY FACTS

CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security is constantly growing. The numbers are constantly changing. Here we present some of the most concise figures about the Helmholtz Center for Information Security. (February 29, 2024)

31

years age average

49

nationalities from all over the world

34,0 %

women

103

research assistants

565

employees – and growing! 

2019

full member of the Helmholtz Association

AWARDS

CISPA researchers have already received numerous scientific prizes and awards. Among the most important of these are the nine ERC Grants that our researchers have won to date. With these grants, the EU supports excellent scientists and their groundbreaking research.

AWARDS

CISPA researchers have already received numerous scientific prizes and awards. Among the most important of these are the nine ERC Grants that our researchers have won to date. With these grants, the EU supports excellent scientists and their groundbreaking research.

OUR MILESTONES

Oct 2011 - CISPA was established

CISPA was established in October as a national, BMBF-funded competence center for IT security and privacy at Saarland University.

Jan 2014 - Erc Synergy Grant

CISPA researchers are the first computer scientists to be awarded with the ERC Synergy Grant., the highest valued EU research award. 

Oct 2014 - Bachelor Cybersecurity

CISPA has established a unique Bachelor university program in Cybersecurity at Saarland University.

Apr 2016 - Opening of the CISPA building

The first CISPA building is inaugurated.  The planning of the second building is in full swing.

Nov 2016 - CISPA-Stanford Center

The cooperation between Stanford University and CISPA is sealed. The goal: promoting the exchange and training of outstanding researchers.

Dec 2017 - Helmholtz welcomes CISPA

CISPA announces its entry into Helmholtz Association.

Sep 2018 - Founding HMSP

CISPA and DZNE found the Helmholtz Medical Security and Privacy Research Center (HMSP).

Oct 2018 - Master Entrepreneurial Cybersecurity

A new Master's programme starts at Saarland University, in which students start a company as part of their studies.

Jan 2019 - CISPA is the 19th Helmholtz Center

CISPA becomes a full member of the Helmholtz Association, the largest research association in Germany. 

Mar 2019 - ZF AI & Cybersecurity Center

The global automotive supplier ZF announces cooperation with CISPA in the "ZF AI & Cybersecurity Center".

Jan 2020 - Cooperation with Loria

CISPA and LORIA open the new French-German Center for Cybersecurity.

LOCATION

WHERE IS SAARBRÜCKEN?

Saarbrücken, the state capital of Saarland, is located in the southwest of Germany, adjacent to the French border, about halfway between Luxembourg City and Strasbourg.

HOW TO REACH US BY PLANE

Saarbrücken airport (SCN) offers daily non-stop flights to a number of European cities. A taxi ride from the airport to Saarland University takes about 20 minutes (roughly 25 euros Taxi Phone +49 681 33033 or +49 681 55000). Alternatively, a local bus (R10) will take you from the airport (bus stop: “Saarbrücken Flughafen”) to Saarland University in 45 minutes (2,60 euros). The bus runs approximately twice an hour between 5 am and 8:45 pm on weekdays.

For details, see the R10 timetable: http://www.saarfahrplan.de

Frankfurt airport (FRA), the second biggest hub in Europe, is convenient for travellers from most destinations. It is a car drive of 1 1/2 hours to Saarbruecken and 2 to 2 1/2 hours by train. For instructions on getting from Frankfurt airport to Saarbruecken by train, see "By Train" below. Airports in Paris or Luxembourg are other convenient options, connected to Saarbruecken by train or bus.

HOW TO REACH US BY TRAIN

Saarbruecken's main railway station (“Hauptbahnhof”) is well connected to other German cities. You can take the bus lines 111, 112, and 124 to Saarland University. A bus ride from Saarbruecken main railway station to Saarland University takes between 15 and 25 minutes (2,60 euros). If you exit at bus stop “Stuhlsatzenhaus”, you are right at CISPA’s doorstep.

For details, access the timetables: http://www.saarfahrplan.de

HOW TO REACH US BY CAR

GPS coordinates of the University campus:  N 49.259386  E 7.051715

CISPA is located at the eastern entrance (“Universität Ost”) of the university. You can conveniently park your car right in front of our institute or in the multi-storey parking lot, “Universität Ost”, at a few hundred meters distance.

ADRESSES

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CISPA – Main building

Stuhlsatzenhaus 5
66123 Saarbrücken, Germany

 +49 681 87083 1001  +49 681 87083 8801
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Enovos-Building

Am Halberg 3
66121 Saarbrücken, Germany

 +49 681 87083 1001  +49 681 87083 8801
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St. Ingbert - Beckerturm

Kaiserstraße 170-174
66386 St. Ingbert, Germany

 +49 681 87083 1001  +49 681 87083 8801
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St. Ingbert - City Building

Kaiserstraße 21
66386 St. Ingbert

MEDIA RELATIONS

On our Media Relations Page we provide members of the press with all relevant information about CISPA. Please contact us directly if you have any institutional inquiries or further questions regarding our research. We will be happy to connect you with our cybersecurity and trustworthy AI experts.