As we close out 2024, it is a good time to reflect on a year that has brought significant changes and achievements for Virtual Routes. This year, the European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative and the European Cyber Conflict Research Incubator continued jointly under the new Virtual Routes brand.
This change embodies our shared mission: tackling the impact of digital and emerging technologies on global affairs through research, education, and public engagement.
Virtual Routes is a growing home for those passionate about technology and global affairs - a community where people can develop ideas, build skills, and work together to deliver meaningful change.
The third cohort of the European Cybersecurity Fellowship brought together 14 outstanding fellows from diverse backgrounds.
This group included participants from countries joining the program for the first time, like Albania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Ukraine.
The program continued its success thanks to partnerships with Microsoft, Mandiant (now part of Google Cloud), and the government of Malta, ensuring that Virtual Routes remains a hub for developing future cybersecurity leaders.
Two fellows represented Virtual Routes ably at the annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in December 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, participating in several panels and networking sessions organized by Virtual Routes.
2024 was a pivotal year for Binding Hook, with over 70 contributors publishing on the platform and a significant increase in readership. We also moved to BlueSky.A standout initiative was the launch of the AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition in partnership with the Munich Security Conference. We are excited to see what 2025 brings as the high level review committee selects the best submissions.
This year, the Virtual Routes Colloquium continued to provide a packed term card, offering researchers and practitioners a space to present and refine work at the forefront of security and technology topics.
In 2024, Virtual Routes continued its work with REMIT, funded by the European Commission, leading research into the economic and societal factors shaping technology governance. This stream remains central to our mission of producing actionable insights for policymakers and the public.
Virtual Routes also contributed centrally to two landmark reports on the market for commercial cyber intrusion capabilities, offering new recommendations for better spyware governance and ways to curb misuse and abuse.
In collaboration with Google.org, Virtual Routes launched a groundbreaking initiative to expand cybersecurity education at universities worldwide. Selected universities received funding of up to $1 million, along with access to Google’s expertise and curated educational resources. This included the development and publication of a wide range of supporting materials, including the Local Community Engagement and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion guides as well as the Cybersecurity and AI Readings Portal. The portal’s curated lists, sourced from syllabi of leading universities, help educators decide what to include in their courses. The Seminars program culminated with the Network Event in Malaga, in December, and the launch of several university programs.
In June, Virtual Routes organized the Oxford Cyber Forum at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. The Forum offered a crucial platform for dialogue among government officials, academics, civil society and private sector leaders on the evolving landscape of cyber conflict and security, as well as dedicated workshops for early career researchers.
The Cyber Education Pathways Initiative is our bold new effort to develop lasting cybersecurity education opportunities in regions with limited access. This program demonstrates our commitment to building capacity and fostering talent in areas that need it most.
As we look ahead to 2025, we are energized by the opportunities to further our work and build on the momentum of this year. We look forward to expanding and further improving the diverse initiatives above, as well as several new and exciting projects in the pipeline. Here’s to another year of collaboration and impact.
Pakraunama…
