CYBERFORT Final Conference
Strengthening SME Cyber Resilience for CRA Compliance
European Parliament, Brussels · 24–25 June 2026
Cybersecurity International Conference Event · Organized by the CYBERFORT Consortium · Hosted by Vice-President Victor Negrescu (Day 1) and MEP Loucas Fourlas (Day 2)
A two-day international conference at the European Parliament bringing together EU policymakers, national authorities, industry leaders, and cybersecurity experts to discuss CRA implementation and the role of European projects in supporting SMEs.
Event Resources
1. Background and Context
Event Information
The Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) represents a key pillar of the European Union's cybersecurity framework, introducing horizontal cybersecurity requirements for digital products across the Single Market. As the EU moves toward implementation, a key challenge remains ensuring that companies, particularly SMEs, can effectively operationalise these requirements in practice.
At the same time, the EU continues to invest in cybersecurity capacity through initiatives such as the Digital Europe Programme and projects like CYBERFORT, which aim to translate regulatory obligations into practical tools, methodologies, and support mechanisms.
Against this backdrop, the CYBERFORT Final Conference, to be hosted at the European Parliament in Brussels, will bring together EU policymakers, national authorities, industry leaders, and cybersecurity experts to discuss the implementation of the CRA and the role of European projects in supporting SMEs.
2. Objectives
The Conference aims to:
- Facilitate high-level dialogue on the implementation of the Cyber Resilience Act at EU and national level.
- Present practical insights and outcomes from the CYBERFORT project, including tools and methodologies for SME compliance.
- Examine how SMEs can adapt to CRA requirements, including challenges related to resources, skills, and compliance processes.
- Foster cooperation between European institutions, national authorities, industry, and cybersecurity projects.
- Explore how to build a sustainable European ecosystem to support CRA implementation beyond individual projects.
3. Target Audience
The event convenes approximately 80–100 participants, including:
- Representatives of EU institutions (European Commission, European Parliament, ENISA);
- National cybersecurity authorities (e.g. DNSC and counterparts);
- Cybersecurity companies and technology providers;
- SMEs and industry associations;
- Representatives of EU-funded cybersecurity projects;
- Academia and policy experts.
4. Key Themes
- CRA implementation and enforcement at EU and Member State level
- SME readiness and compliance challenges
- Cybersecurity by design and product lifecycle security
- Role of EU-funded projects in supporting compliance
- Building a European cybersecurity support ecosystem
- Skills, capacity building, and workforce readiness
5. Format
The event is structured as a half-day conference, combining:
- High-level keynotes
- Policy and multi-stakeholder panels
- Project presentations and live demonstrations
- Strategic discussions on future cooperation
Agenda · Day One
Wednesday, 24 June 2026 · 14:00 – 18:00 CET · European Parliament, ASP Altiero Spinelli – Room Info HUB · Hosted by Vice-President Victor Negrescu
| Time (CET) | Session |
|---|---|
| 14:00 – 14:30 | Registration |
| 14:30 – 14:40 |
Opening Remarks · Framing the Strategic Importance of the Cyber Resilience Act for the EU
Victor Negrescu — Vice-President, European Parliament
|
| 14:40 – 14:50 |
Keynotes · Strengthening Romania–EU and Romania–Belgium Partnerships
H.E. Mrs. Iulia Matei* — Ambassador, Permanent Representation of Romania to the EU
H.E. Mrs. Andreea Pastarnac — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Kingdom of Belgium
|
| 14:50 – 15:00 |
Conference and CYBERFORT Project Main Objectives and Results
Mihai Păun — Founder, I-ENERGYLINK; CYBERFORT Consortium Coordinator
|
| 15:00 – 15:10 |
Keynote · ECCC Support on CRA
Panagiotis Marzelas — CYBERFORT Project Officer, ECCC
|
| 15:10 – 15:50 |
Panel · The Cyber Resilience Act: Strategic Direction, Governance and Market Impact
Moderator: Bas Kruimer — Practice Lead IT/OT Integration, TRC Intelligent Grid Solutions Europe
Speakers: Apostolos Malatras (ENISA), Daniel Thompson-Yvetot (Comply.Land · CrabNebula), Dragos Pufulete (IMM Romania), Marios Ioannou (COLUMBIA Group), Mark Norton (Smart Wires Inc), Ioana Calarasu (Authority of Digitalization of Romania)
|
| 15:50 – 16:00 | Networking Break |
| 16:00 – 16:10 |
CYBERFORT Project · Final Outcomes
Paul Lacatus — Deputy Project Manager CYBERFORT, I-ENERGYLINK
Nikos Kekatos — R&D Coordinator, CLONE SYSTEMS
|
| 16:10 – 16:40 |
Panel · CYBERFORT Pilots Outcomes
Moderators: Paul Lacatus & Nikos Kekatos
Speakers: Marios Ioannou (COLUMBIA Group), Angelos Fountoulakis (EXIMPROD Engineering), Daniel Avraam (DEALIO), Nikos Kekatos (CLONE SYSTEMS), Mihaela Curca (DNSC)
|
| 16:40 – 17:00 |
Live Demonstration · CYBERFORT in Action: Tools for SME Cyber Resilience
Michael Ioannou — ICT Manager, Bolton Technologies
|
| 17:00 – 17:10 | Networking Break |
| 17:10 – 17:45 |
Panel · From Compliance to Practice: Operationalizing the Cyber Resilience Act and Policy Recommendations
Moderator: Vasilis Psyras — Advocate, Elias Neocleous
Speakers: Carmela Occhipinti & Luigi Briguglio (CyberEthics Lab), Claudia Manole (Eximprod Group), Bas Kruimer (TRC Intelligent Grid Solutions Europe), Cristian Pirvulescu (ENEVO), Catalin Vlad (ELECTRICA S.A.)
|
| 17:45 – 18:00 |
Audience Q&A and Closing Remarks
Mihai Păun — CYBERFORT Consortium Coordinator
|
* Invited — to be confirmed
Agenda · Day Two
Thursday, 25 June 2026 · 9:00 – 11:00 CET · European Parliament, ASP Altiero Spinelli – Room 6Q1 · Hosted by MEP Loucas Fourlas · Supported by DNSC and Bolton Technologies
| Time (CET) | Session |
|---|---|
| 08:30 – 09:00 | Registration |
| 09:00 – 09:15 |
Opening Remarks
Loucas Fourlas — Member of the European Parliament
|
| 09:15 – 09:25 |
Conference and CYBERFORT Project Main Objectives
Mihai Păun — Founder, I-ENERGYLINK; CYBERFORT Consortium Coordinator
|
| 09:25 – 09:35 |
Keynote · Cyber Resilience Act: From Policy to Practice
Dan Cîmpean — The Director of DNSC
|
| 09:35 – 10:25 |
High-Level Panel · How Can Europe Support SMEs in Becoming CRA-Ready?
Moderator: Florentina Dumitru — Executive Director, Aspen Institute Brussels (ECESTR)
Speakers: Liliana Musetan (Council of Europe), Apostolos Malatras (ENISA), Tjabe BOS (DG CONNECT), Krassi Bogdanova (European Parliament), Marios Ioannou (COLUMBIA Group), Ulrich Seldeslachts (LSEC, CRACY Project), Michael Ioannou (Bolton Technologies)
|
| 10:25 – 10:45 |
CYBERFORT Final Results Presentation · Supporting SME Cyber Resilience for CRA Compliance
Nikos Kekatos — R&D Coordinator, CLONE SYSTEMS (Technical Lead)
|
| 10:45 – 11:00 |
Audience Q&A and Closing Remarks
Mihai Păun — CYBERFORT Consortium Coordinator
|
Venue & Logistics
The CYBERFORT Final Conference takes place over two days at the European Parliament, Rue Wiertz 60, Brussels.