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2025-10-09
Annabelle Theobald

Looking Back: CISPA at the German Unity Day 2025

For four days, Saarbrücken was all about unity – and CISPA was right in the middle of it. Under the motto “Future through Change,” CISPA showcased at various events and at a booth in downtown Saarbrücken how transformation can drive progress – through research that makes our digital world safer and more resilient.

A Special Start

To kick off the celebrations on October 1, we welcomed a delegation of citizens from all German federal states to CISPA. Mario Daniels, Head of Public Affairs, introduced our work and mission and answered many curious questions from guests who are particularly active in their local communities.

Research in Dialogue

On October 2, CISPA Faculty member Dr. Rebekka Burkholz participated in the Dialogue Forum on Bahnhofstraße. Together with Christian Seel, Saarland’s Commissioner for Civil Protection, she discussed “AI Compass for Times of Crisis – Real Help or Black Box Risk?” exploring both the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence. The audience joined in with lively discussion.

A Great Experience

CISPA CYBER BRIEFING: Focusing on Digital Resilience

Also on October 2, the second CISPA CYBER BRIEFING took place at the Camera Zwo cinema. Researchers, entrepreneurs, and representatives from politics and business came together to discuss digital resilience and trust in digital systems. Prof. Dr. Christian Rossow demonstrated how his team uses so-called honeypots to study and trace cyberattacks. Philipp Dewald, CEO of CISPA startup Detesia, presented Detesia’s technology for detecting deepfakes. “Only by connecting knowledge and innovation can we make Europe’s digital future resilient and trustworthy,” emphasized co-organizer Mario Daniels.

Encounters in the Heart of the City

On Mainzer Straße, we talked with visitors from across Germany and neighboring countries about research, IT security, and future technologies – and enjoyed many interesting questions and great conversations. We didn’t just keep the (quiz) wheel spinning all day; our deepfake and route-planning challenges were also extremely popular.

Saarbrücken Shines!

A visual highlight was the Apollon Festival 2025, which illuminated the HDI building in the colors and styles of regional and French artists. We’re proud to have been a partner in this special project. A big thank-you goes out to the Saarbrücken Osthafen team for the stunning visual art!