Invitation
Empowering Europe with Digital and Cybersecurity Skills
Dear Partners
What is the current state of our digital and cybersecurity skills? And are we truly ready to meet the ever-increasing demands of the digital future?
We are pleased to invite you to the conference “Empowering Europe with Digital and Cyber Security Skills,” which will focus on assessing the current state of digital and cybersecurity competencies not only in the Central European region. As Europe undergoes a rapid digital transformation, this event will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and education experts to discuss the steps needed to strengthen cyber security resilience, accelerate digital progress, and close critical digital skill gaps. Together, we will explore how to ensure Europe remains competitive, secure, and inclusive in the digital age.
Date: 9th July 2025
Location: Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU (in Brussels), Avenue de Cortenbergh 79, Brussels, Belgium
Agenda:
09:00 – 09:25 Official Welcome and Opening Remarks
Mária Malová, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU
Marek Bezák, Advisor of the Minister of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic
Mário Lelovský, Chairman, Digital Coalition, Slovak Republic
Georgi Dimitrov, Head of Unit Digital Education, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission
09:25 – 10:45 I. Panel: Digital Skills – Current Status and Future Outlook
Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca Municipality, Member of the Committee of the Regions and Rapporteur of the CoR opinion on the Union of Skills Strategy, Romania
Martin Úlovec, Ministerial Commissioner for Digitization and Digital Education at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, National Institute of Education of the Czech Republic (TBC)
Andreea Calbeaza, Government Affairs, Microsoft; Chair of the Skills & Inclusion Working Group, Digital Europe
Rehana Schwinninger-Ladak, Head of Unit Interactive technologies, Digital for Culture and Education, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, European Commission
10:45 – 11:00 The Digital Bridge to Integration: Supporting Ukrainians in the Slovak Republic
Alona Kurotova, Representative of the Ukrainian Community in Slovak Republic, Slovak Republic
11:00 – 11:20 Coffee break
11:20 – 12:35 II. Panel: Digital Skills – Specific Projects and Best Practices
Lucia Martišková, Project Manager, Digital Coalition, Slovak Republic
Michal Kanownik, President, Digital Poland Association, Poland
Jaromír Hanzal, Director at AAVIT (Association for Applied Research in IT), Czech Republic
Viktor Bálint, Education and Labour Market Working Group Lead, Association of Digital Companies, Hungary (TBC)
12:35 – 13:35 Networking Lunch
13:35 – 13:50 Cyber Game – A Talent Show or How to Attract Young People to Cyber Security?
Jaroslav Ďurovka, Project Cyber Game, National Cyber Security Centre SK-CERT, Slovak Republic
13:50 – 14:50 III. Panel / Cyber Security Skills as Fuel for the European Labour Market
Evangelos Outzounis, HoU Capacity Building and Skills, ENISA
Marek Zeman, Cyber Security Competence and Certification Centre, Slovak Republic
Edward Parsons, Vice President, Global Markets and Member Relations, ISC2
Jeppe Engell, Senior Advisor for Cyber Policy, Danish Industry
14:50 – 15:55 IV. Panel / Women in IT – Empowering the Next Generation: Supporting Girls in IT and Digital Skills
Lenka Krištofičová, Project Manager, Digital Coalition, Slovak Republic
Diogo da Silva, Pedagogical Director at Visionarium, Portugal
Angela Jafarova, Head of Coding School, Datorium, Latvia
15:55 – 16:00 Closing Remarks
We look forward to your participation!
Best regards,
Event Organizers:
Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic
National Security Authority
Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU
Digital Coalition