18th STIC CCN-CERT Conference | 6th ESPDEF-CERT Cyber-Defense Conference: ICT R&D&I as a guarantee of strategic sovereignty

From November 26-28, Madrid became the epicenter of cybersecurity in Spain by hosting the 18th STIC CCN-CERT Conference and the 6th ESPDEF-CERT Cyber Defense Conference, under the slogan “Active cyber defense for a digital world”. This prestigious event, held by the National Cryptologic Center of the National Intelligence Center, the Joint Cyberspace Command, and RootedCON, brought together leading national and international public- and private-sector organizations of the cybersecurity sector.

GMV, a leading institution in this field, took an active part in the event, with the participation of Luis Fernando Álvarez-Gascón in two highly relevant panel discussions. The first, entitled “The economic drive in ICT R&D&I geared to national (cybersecurity) beyond European funds,” addressed the pressing need to build up national cybersecurity industrial capabilities, thus ensuring the desired levels of security and strategic autonomy, based on technological sovereignty. This approach needs to be upgraded to the category of political priority and not just limited to obtaining European funds. Although such funds are also important and need to be approached with greater ambition.

GMV stands as a leader in the cybersecurity sector, in which it has been operating since the beginning of the internet. In his speech, Álvarez-Gascón stressed that GMV's cybersecurity R&D&I strategy is not geared towards improving on what others have already developed but focuses on identifying and plugging existing gaps to create groundbreaking solutions. This effort has given rise to unique tools such as gestvul®, which manages the life cycle of vulnerabilities from identification to resolution, and uTile PET, a system that allows secure and private calculations to be made on distributed data without exposing or transferring them outside the organizations.

Moreover, it is important to note the close collaboration between the company and the public agencies where cybersecurity is a priority. Governments are essential driving forces in the promotion of R&D&I in the private sector, acting as catalysts that foster an environment conducive to innovation and technological development. In this respect, GMV's executive stressed that the Ministry of Defense has consolidated lines of innovation collaboration with the private sector over the years, setting up a cooperative framework that has enabled knowledge and resources to be exchanged. However, he also emphasized that “a greater allocation of resources is always desirable,” suggesting that, although significant progress has been made, there is still a long way to go to maximize the potential of these synergies. This shared vision between the public and private sector is critical to strengthening national cyber defense and ensuring a more secure and resilient digital future. Effective collaboration not only boosts responsiveness to emerging threats but also lays the foundation for a robust and sustainable cybersecurity ecosystem, where innovation can become the engine that drives national security in an increasingly interconnected world.

Networked Cyber Defense: Partnerships that strengthen the digital world   

The second panel discussion in which GMV took part, run by Women4Cyber, reaffirmed the organization's commitment to working towards inclusive cybersecurity, stressing the importance of public-private partnerships to strengthen the current ecosystem and the need to maintain a clear focus on retaining talent. Luis Fernando Álvarez-Gascón, GMV's representative, underlined the value of women's talent in the sector, stating that “it is absolutely necessary, and we cannot do without it.” He also stressed the need to recognize, consider and reward this talent on an equal footing with men, a line of work that is fundamental in GMV. 

To illustrate this commitment, he mentioned an award-winning example: “At GMV, we have developed an award-winning solution in the sector, PAIT, which proves with data that there is no gender pay gap in the company.” GMV also collaborates actively with Women4Cyber, taking part in initiatives such as the mentoring program and contributing its experience in various outreach and training activities promoted by the organization. This collaboration not only reinforces GMV's commitment to gender equality but also contributes to the development of a more inclusive and diverse cybersecurity environment.