Training minds for the work of the future.

This is the purpose of CyberX – Mind4Future, the new advanced and experiential training program on cybersecurity topics by Cyber4.0 and Leonardo in collaboration with partner universities and thus open to students from Sapienza, Tor Vergata, Roma Tre, LUISS Guido Carli, Campus Biomedico, Tuscia, Cassino and Lazio Meridionale, L’Aquila.

The initiative involves students from universities that are part of Cyber 4.0 (bachelor’s and master’s) degrees in information, industrial and information engineering, and degrees in Mathematics, Physics, Data science, Management and Computer Science. Enrollment is also allowed for students enrolled in the 2021/2022 course who must complete their studies during 2023.

Globally, 80 percent of organizations have experienced one or more cyber attacks attributable to a lack of cybersecurity skills and/or awareness, while the skill-gap in cyber in 2022 is more than 3.43 million positions globally, set to increase by 26.2 percent annually, and more than 317 thousand positions in the EMEA region, with an expected increase of 59.3 percent annually.

CyberX – Mind4Future is a concrete opportunity for students about to enter the world of work to enhance their skills, experience frontier technology solutions and learn about a leading business environment in the cyber security industry.

The program, organized by Cyber 4.0 in collaboration with Leonardo, has the following objectives:

  • Enhance and foster the development of knowledge in cyber security deemed indispensable for the defense of modern ICT infrastructure.
  • Promote the development of soft-skills through engaging and immersive exercises with platforms inspired by gaming techniques.
  • To help increase the culture of safety on the ground in central Italy particularly in relation to the university population.

Students participating in the initiative will attend training courses on topics in cyber security and workshop and gaming activities in virtualized and immersive realities. Participation will conclude with a contest, in which the top finishers will be awarded a 10 scholarship.

The amount of the scholarships, established on funds provided by Leonardo S.p.A., is as follows:

  • 5,000 EUR gross for the first place winner
  • 3,000 EUR gross for the runner-up
  • 2,500 EUR gross for the third place winner
  • 2,000 EUR gross for the fourth place winner
  • 1,500 EUR gross for the fifth place winner
  • 1,000 EUR gross each for sixth through tenth place finishers

The initiative will take place over a period of time from the activation of the call for proposals on December 19, 2022, to the final awards ceremony in April 2023.

This is the schedule:

December 2022 – January 2023

  • Publication Announcement
  • Launch Event
  • Closing date for announcement on January 25, 2023 and selection of students

February 2023

  • Training sessions , one at each participating university

March 2023

  • Experiential training sessions at Leonardo and contest

April 2023

  • Project finalization with awarding scholarships to the best ranked students
  • Awards event

The training phase will include sessions to explore key topics in the world of cybersecurity, such as computer network security, binary code analysis, cryptography, and system and network security. Classes will be held in a hybrid mode with university professors and business experts.

Laboratory and gaming activities in virtualized and immersive realities such as:

  • Capture The Flag (CTF): a game to measure skills acquired through a course of questions with increasing complexity on cybersecurity issues
  • Cyber Range: a challenge in which to defend a cyber-physical infrastructure from attacks launched by a group of specialist, ethical hackers in a realistic virtualized environment

You can view the announcement here: CyberX Announcement – Mind4Future

Application for the CyberX – Mind4Future selection must be made online by 11:59 p.m. on 01/25/2023. Applications after this date and time will not be considered.

To apply to participate, please fill out the following form: https://forms.monday.com/forms/e2fe7f289cdc3559f77cbd5dfa02ea31?r=use1

Clarifications or other inquiries, may be requested no later than 48 hours prior to the announcement deadline, by writing to e-mail: cyber@cyber40.it.

News update: On Thursday, Jan. 19 from 3 p.m. there will be a launch event at the Cyber 4.0 headquarters in Rome, Via Ardito Desio 60.

For registered students, it will be possible to apply by clicking here.