“The CISPA European Cybersecurity & AI Hackathon Championship is part of CISPA’s commitment to increasing Europe’s role as a global hub for excellence in cybersecurity and AI. It is a strategic movement aimed at securing Europe’s AI future by identifying and supporting the next generation of cybersecurity talent,” explains CISPA-Faculty Dr. Franziska Boenisch. Together with her colleague Dr. Adam Dziedzic, she developed the concept of the Championship. “In an age where AI transforms every aspect of society and cybersecurity challenges grow more complex, fostering expertise in both domains is critical,” adds Dziedzic. This includes promoting awareness of the need for trustworthy AI and increasing interest in AI research and development.
Shaping the Future AI Workforce for Europe
“This new initiative is about empowering young scientists to rise to the defining technological challenge of our time,” explains Faith Blakemore, Head of International Affairs and Science Relations at CISPA, who takes the organisation lead of the event. “Through this initiative, we are building a pan-European community fluent in both AI and cybersecurity—one that values collaboration, innovation, and digital resilience. We want to develop the skills and capacities needed to tackle our grand challenges in these fields.” The hackathon aims to identify young scientific talent, recruit future PhD candidates, and help create the future AI workforce for Europe. It is planned as a regularly recurring event format that strengthens Europe’s position as a leader in cybersecurity and AI innovation.
A Mission across major European university cities
The CISPA Championship will feature six regional 24-hour hackathons across major European university cities such as Paris, Stockholm and Barcelona, culminating in a Grand Finale in St. Ingbert (Germany), the future home of CISPA. The hackathon welcomes Bachelor’s and Master’s students aged 18 and over to join and show their skills. The participants will compete in teams of four, tackling four technical challenges at the cutting edge of cybersecurity and AI. The challenges are provided by CISPA Faculty, all of whom are top-ranking researchers in their respective fields. The best teams will present their solutions to expert juries, with winners advancing to the final round.
Prestigious Awards and Research Opportunities
Winners of each regional round will receive certificates and full sponsorship to attend the Grand Finale in Germany, including travel and accommodation. Prize money totaling €8,000 is available for the winning teams. The overall champions will be awarded a €4,000 cash prize, and commemorative trophies. Additional finalists will receive monetary prizes and official recognition. Registration for the regional hackathons is now open.
