NERO Showcases ECSF-Driven Training and Collaboration at European Cybersecurity Skills Workshop in Brussels
18, March, 2026
The NERO Project took an active role in the European Cybersecurity Skills Workshop “Engaging EU Projects Using the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework (ECSF)”, held on 20–21 November 2025, contributing its experience and results into a lively exchange with peers from across Europe.
Organised by the ENISA in collaboration with Digital Europe Programme (DEP) projects such as NERO, CyberSynchrony, and CyberSecPro, with support from Infotrend Co.Ltd, Ianus Technologies Ltd, Maggioli S.p.A., trustilio B.V., and the University of Piraeus Research Centre (UPRC), the workshop gathered EU-funded initiatives and stakeholders with a shared goal: strengthening collaboration and increasing the visibility of efforts around the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework.
Sharing Results and Practical Tools
On the first day, NERO contributed to the Inspiring Talks session, where projects showcased how they are putting the ECSF into practice.
Dr Kitty Kioskli, together with Dr Eleni Seralidou from trustilo, presented how NERO’s work is shaped by the ECSF, emphasising the importance of aligning cybersecurity training with real-world market needs. Their presentation illustrated how the framework helps translate abstract skills into clearly defined roles and competencies that training providers can actually use.
This was followed by a short but impactful demonstration of the NERO Marketplace by Wissam Mallouli, giving participants a hands-on glimpse into a platform that brings together tools, training, and practical cybersecurity exercises in one place.
Working Together on Skills Gaps
In the afternoon, the workshop shifted from presentations to collaboration. Across four breakout sessions, 16 EU projects worked together to explore how their initiatives are helping to close the cybersecurity skills gap.
NERO joined the session on "Designing and Delivering Horizontal Training and Education Initiatives", where the discussion focused on how different projects can align their efforts, avoid duplication, and build on each other’s strengths. Represented by Luis Cordeiro, Kitty Kioskli and Eleni Seralidou (trustilio), Wissam Mallouli (Montimage), and Pedro Tomas (ONESOURCE), the team actively contributed to mapping current initiatives and identifying future priorities.
The session highlighted an essential point: no single project can solve the skills gap alone, but coordinated efforts—guided by frameworks like the ECSF—can make a real difference.
From Framework to Practice: Insights from the Coordinator
In an interview with CyberSecTV, Dr Kitty Kioskli offered a more personal perspective on what the ECSF means in practice.
As coordinator of NERO, she explained how the framework helps turn cybersecurity training into a structured, comparable, and directly relevant to industry needs. By mapping training content to specific skills, competencies, and professional profiles, organisations can ensure that what they teach matches what the market actually requires.
Under her coordination, NERO has developed more than 20 training modules aligned with ECSF role profiles, covering both technical and governance aspects of cybersecurity. This structured approach not only improves training quality but also supports collaboration across Europe.
“Using the ECSF as a reference allows us to align training directly with recognised industry needs,” she noted, pointing to the framework’s value as both a practical guide and a common reference point.
She also highlighted NERO’s collaboration with over 20 EU-funded projects, describing the initiative as part of a broader effort to create more consistent and interoperable cybersecurity training across Europe.
Building Momentum Across Europe
NERO’s participation in the workshop reflected its broader mission: connecting tools, training, and people to strengthen Europe’s cybersecurity capabilities. As part of this effort, NERO Free Cybersecurity Training for SMEs is now available on the EU Digital Skills and Jobs Platform, offering organisations the chance to explore four featured free NERO training modules designed to develop practical, ECSF-aligned cybersecurity skills.
By contributing to discussions, sharing concrete results, and engaging with other EU projects, NERO continues to position itself as both a practical solution provider and an active partner in shaping the future of cybersecurity skills across Europe.