The Chair in Cybersecurity created at the UPNA together with the Navarra Cybersecurity Centre
The Public University of Navarra (UPNA) and the Navarra Cybersecurity Centre (NavCC), promoted by the Government of Navarra, have signed an agreement for the creation of the UPNA Chair of Cybersecurity. Its objective is to develop cooperation between the university and the aforementioned centre, promoting and disseminating new knowledge, as well as contributing to the training of students, collaborating in the improvement of the academic offer, holding scientific and technical dissemination activities, promoting the participation of women in the area of cybersecurity and generating advanced research in this field.
The signing ceremony was attended by the principal of the UPNA, the coordinator of the Navarra Cybersecurtiy Centre, Juan Ramón Aramendía, the Regional Minister for University, Innovation and Digital Transformation of the Government of Navarra, Juan Luis García; the Director General of the University, Eva Perujuániz; and the director of Nasertic, Iñaki Pinillos. Also present from the UPNA were the lecturer of the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Communication Engineering Mikel Izal Azcárate and the professor of Telematics Engineering Eduardo Magaña Lizarrondo, both members of the ISC research institute of the UPNA.
Forms of collaboration
Collaboration between the two entities will focus on the development of joint activities. These include research projects in different thematic lines in the field covered by the Chair, doctoral theses and final projects (master's or degree), encouraging the participation of cybersecurity experts in academic activities and promoting continuous training for professionals in the cybersecurity sector.
It also envisages carrying out student internships at Nasertic and visits to the production centres of companies of interest in the field of cybersecurity by UPNA students, as well as promoting, designing and organising different communication and training activities (conferences, courses, seminars and attendance at events, among other activities).
A joint monitoring committee will establish the annual programme of activities of the Chair. This committee will be made up of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 representatives from each of the entities (UPNA and Navarra Cybersecurity Centre) that form the Chair and will meet at least twice a year. The university, at the proposal of this committee, will appoint a director responsible for the Chair, who will hold office for renewable annual periods.
About Navarra Cybersecurity Centre
The Navarra Cybersecurity Centre (NavCC) is an initiative led by the Department of University, Innovation and Digital Transformation of the Government of Navarra, framed in the collaborative project CIBERREG - Boosting cybersecurity from the regions -, It is part of the RETECH programme (Territorial Networks of Technological Specialisation), promoted by the Secretary of State for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence, coordinated by INCIBE and financed with funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (Next Generation).
The Navarra Cybersecurity Centre was created as the reference centre for cybersecurity in Navarra and a one-stop shop in this area that is integrated into the Digital Innovation Hub of Navarra, IRIS, initiatives promoted by the Department of University, Innovation and Digital Transformation, through the Directorate General of Telecommunications and Digitalisation. Its main objective is to promote the development of initiatives that lead to an increase in cyber resilience in all areas of the Autonomous Community of Navarra (citizens, business fabric - with a special focus on SMEs and the self-employed - and public administrations).
During 2024, the UPNA and the NavCC have collaborated in several initiatives aimed at promoting the generation of specialised talent in cybersecurity. On the one hand, they joined forces to promote the Master's Degree in Cybersecurity that the UPNA has been offering this academic year and, on the other hand, they organised the first cybersecurity competition aimed at undergraduate and vocational training students.
