Europe’s main start-up match-making event
The European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO), Security Delta (HSD), InnovationQuarter, The Hague Convention Bureau, and TIIN Capital B.V. announce the final competition of Europe’s main start-up match-making event solely focussed on cybersecurity: the European Cybersecurity STARtup Award. On the 5th and 6th April, 12 start-ups and SMEs, a jury of cybersecurity experts and investors, as well as top European policymakers will gather in The Hague, the Netherlands, to select the winner of this prestigious prize and grant a unique business opportunity in Europe.
In today’s fragmented European cybersecurity market, SMEs and start-ups often struggle to find the right opportunity to gain visibility, investments and to enter a larger European market where they can promote their cybersecurity products and services. To overcome this market fragmentation and increase the awareness and visibility of state-of-the-art cybersecurity companies at the European and global level, the yearly European Cybersecurity STARtup Award competition allows SMEs and start-ups to pitch their ideas and network with experts and investors, and win a mentoring opportunity, as well as a one-year subscription to the CYBERSECURITY MADE IN EUROPE Label. This year, the final competition is hosted by the city of The Hague, providing insights into the Dutch cybersecurity ecosystem.
A major hub for cybersecurity in Europe – the Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area
The Hague has established itself as the international city of peace, justice and security. It is a major hub for cybersecurity in Europe, with the presence of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, NATO Communications and Information Agency, the Dutch cybersecurity, intelligence and security agencies as well as a wide range of cybersecurity businesses. The Hague has an unparalleled ecosystem around cybersecurity – the Security Delta (HSD) – with over 275 public and private partners collaborating to make a difference in securing our digitising society. The core is the HSD Campus in The Hague. The ecosystem is designed to facilitate organisations by providing access to knowledge, innovation, talent, capital and market.
“In fact, about 32% of all Dutch cybersecurity firms are based in the Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area,” said Martijn van Hoogenhuijze and Philip Meijer, both Senior Account Managers Cybersecurity at InnovationQuarter.
Moreover, the Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area is facilitating ground for the usage of AI and Data Science in the area of Security, Peace and Justice. And the regional initiatives such as Zuid-HollandAI unlock one of the largest AI ecosystems in the Netherlands, offering a solid platform focused on accelerating developments and innovation in AI and data science in the Greater Rotterdam – The Hague area.
Investing in the backbone of Europe’s economy
The Cybersecurity STARtup Award competition embeds the European value of diversity, gathering finalists from five different EU countries and aims at building a stronger and autonomous European digital sovereignty by investing in the backbone of Europe’s economy: SMEs and start-ups.
Access to the event is free of charge. Click here to register.