The province and partners are investing nearly €14.5 million in the Brabant House of Cyber (BHoC). This innovation coalition unites businesses, education, and governments to achieve one goal: making Brabant companies digitally safer. The province contributes just over €3 million to the initial projects.
The BHoC is the first implementation of the Mission Safety Action Plan presented earlier this year to better protect Brabant companies and institutions against digital threats.
Cyberattacks are rapidly increasing and affect everything digitally connected: from smart machines and chips in cars to medical equipment and power plants. Such incidents cost companies billions worldwide and can halt production, cost jobs, and slow innovation.
“But cybersecurity can also be an accelerator,” says Deputy Martijn van Gruijthuijsen (Economy, Knowledge and Talent Development). “Technology in a secure environment gives companies the confidence to innovate faster. With these steps, Brabant shows that we do not wait but lead.”
Digital security is a basic requirement for strong companies and international cooperation. “With the Brabant House of Cyber, we ensure that Brabant companies are not only safe but also have a strong position in technology that makes a difference worldwide.”
Innovation, talent, and resilience
The BHoC combines innovation, talent development, and resilience. The innovation coalition focuses on developing new security technologies, training programs that prepare more people for cybersecurity, and solutions that are easily applicable to many companies and chains to make them digitally safer.
The partnership is guided by a program office that manages all projects. Within the Innovation theme, work is underway on a program for new technologies that make products secure from the design phase. This is called security-by-design and greatly reduces the chance of malfunctions and sabotage. This benefits companies and residents of Brabant: it prevents production stoppages, protects jobs, and ensures reliable technology.
The Talent theme works on continuous, modular learning paths for education and business, which can also be used for retraining and upskilling. This approach is unique in the Netherlands. The Resilience theme focuses on practical, scalable solutions that demonstrably make companies and chains safer.
Collaboration
The main drivers of the BHoC are currently the Brabant Development Agency (BOM), TNO, Avans, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), and the Cyber Resilience Center (CWB).
The entire regional education field – from vocational to university level – is involved. Besides the aforementioned institutions, Smart Makers Academy, Summa College, Koning Willem I College, Fontys Universities of Applied Sciences, Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS), and Tilburg University also participate.
The business community is also strongly represented. High-tech and cybersecurity companies such as ASML, NXP, VDL, Signify, Neways, NTS, KMWE, Vencomatic Group, DAF/Paccar, Heijmans, Bosch, Philips, Simac, ESET, Compumatica, Emproof, Schuberg Philis, MindYourPass, and S2Grupo actively contribute.
Besides the province and BOM, regional partners such as Brainport Development, Mindlabs, the Municipality of Eindhoven, Police, and the Regional Office for Integral Safety are involved. Nationally, cooperation takes place with relevant ministries and important (cybersecurity) clusters such as Security Delta (HSD), CVD, and Digital Holland.
If you want to participate, please contact: economie@brabant.nl
