Between May 7-8, 2026, the Digital Innovation Zone team, represented by Cristina Baghiu, DIZ Coordinator, and Cristina Varvăruc, DIZ Project Manager, participated in both the MERIT General Assembly and the International Industry Engagement Workshop on Cybersecurity.
The MERIT project consortium gathered in Trento, Italy, for the project’s General Assembly, hosted by Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK). The meeting brought together project partners, Advisory Board members, representatives of academia, and industry experts, providing an important framework for assessing project progress, exchanging best practices, and strengthening collaboration in the field of advanced digital skills at European level.
Organised at FBK’s premises in Trento, the General Assembly offered the consortium the opportunity to analyse the implementation of MERIT project activities, discuss upcoming priorities, and coordinate the next steps regarding project sustainability, technical handover, the development of innovation ecosystems, and the exploitation of achieved results.
The meeting agenda included sessions dedicated to reviewing MERIT project progress, best practices and lessons learned, demonstrations, upcoming calls and proposals, technical handover planning, innovation ecosystem development, the sustainability plan, and feedback provided by the Advisory Board. These discussions supported the partners’ shared commitment to ensuring the continuity and impact of MERIT results beyond the project lifetime.
An important moment of the General Assembly was the MERIT International Industry Engagement Workshop on Cybersecurity, organised on 7 May 2026 in a hybrid format, with participants attending both on-site in Trento and online. The workshop gathered over 50 participants, including MERIT partners, Advisory Board members, and experts from industry, academia, research organisations, and innovation ecosystems across Europe.
The event created a suitable context for dialogue between higher education institutions and industry representatives, focusing on current and emerging challenges in the field of cybersecurity, the impact of Artificial Intelligence, European legislative developments, and the advanced digital skills needed to strengthen Europe’s digital resilience.
The cybersecurity workshop opened with a keynote presentation delivered by Matteo Meucci, CEO of Synapsed, entitled Building Trustworthy AI in Industry: Beyond Traditional Cybersecurity. The presentation addressed the development of secure and trustworthy Artificial Intelligence systems throughout the entire software development lifecycle, highlighting the real risks associated with AI-assisted development and the ways in which these can be managed. At the same time, the session underlined the relevance of OWASP guidelines for implementing safer AI systems.
The programme continued with a series of presentations delivered by industry experts, offering practical perspectives on cybersecurity, legislative compliance, data protection, and cyber defence in a context marked by the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence.
Tudor Damian, Co-founder, Cybersecurity, AI & Cloud Advisor at D3 Cyber, delivered the presentation Securing Your Company’s Future: Cybersecurity Skills and Compliance in a Changing EU Landscape. The session analysed the skills needed to implement and maintain compliance with continuously evolving European legislation, including DORA, NIS2, the Cyber Resilience Act, and the AI Act. The presentation highlighted the importance of moving from an approach based exclusively on compliance checklists towards the development of real cybersecurity capabilities, especially for SMEs.
Marian Călborean, Founder of OPTI Software, presented the topic Safe AI and Business Guardrails: Hybrid Architecture Combining On-prem with Cloud for Data Privacy. His intervention focused on the responsible adoption of AI through hybrid architectures that combine on-premises infrastructure with cloud solutions, with an emphasis on data protection, privacy-first design, data flow control, and the implementation of safety mechanisms for organisations integrating AI solutions.
The final presentation in the industry session was delivered by Vladimir Chiritescu, Systems Engineer at Veeam Software, on the topic Next Generation of Cyber Defense: Protecting Data in an AI World. The presentation addressed data protection and resilience strategies, the role of AI in modern cyber defence, and the ways in which organisations can prepare for continuously evolving cyber threats.
The workshop also included an interactive discussion on cybersecurity skills and workforce needs, followed by an exchange of ideas and networking session. Participants reflected on the importance of connecting academic expertise with industry experience in order to develop relevant educational programmes adapted to the growing demand for cybersecurity specialists.
Strengthening collaboration within the MERIT ecosystem
Beyond the cybersecurity workshop, the General Assembly in Trento offered partners the opportunity to reflect on the broader results of the MERIT project in the field of advanced digital skills. Discussions focused on the development of master’s and training programmes in Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and Internet of Things at partner universities, as well as the role of innovation ecosystems in supporting long-term impact. An important emphasis was placed on the sustainability of the project results and post-project operations, including governance, technical resources, documentation, repositories, website maintenance, and future collaboration opportunities.
Hosted by FBK, a prestigious research institution with strong expertise in digital transformation, cybersecurity, digital industry, health, and innovation, the event reconfirmed the importance of partnerships between research, education, and industry for the development of advanced digital skills in Europe.
The recording of the Cybersecurity workshop is available on the Digital MERIT YouTube channel. More details about the presentations will soon be available on the MERIT website.
The MERIT International Industry Engagement Workshops series will continue the dialogue on advanced digital skills through two upcoming sessions dedicated to Artificial Intelligence, on 1 June 2026, and Internet of Things, on 16 June 2026.
About MERIT
The MERIT project aims to strengthen advanced digital skills in key deep-tech domains, including Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and Internet of Things. Through close collaboration among consortium partners, MERIT has developed new master’s and training programmes at UPC, RTU-RBS, TalTech, and VILNIUS TECH, aligned with technological market trends and industry needs, already benefiting students and professionals. MERIT supports the development of innovative educational programmes and engagement activities that prepare students, professionals, and organisations for a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
About MERIT Contributors Network
The Digital Europe MERIT project brings together a diverse network of innovators, combining the expertise of academic institutions, industry leaders, and research organisations across Europe. The network collaborates to address challenges and opportunities in the field of advanced digital skills, with a focus on Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Internet of Things. Together with its members and contributors, MERIT supports digital transformation and the development of future skills for the employees of tomorrow. Organisations and professionals interested in joining the MERIT ecosystem are invited to become part of the MERIT Contributors Network by completing the MERIT Contributors form.