Luxembourg to support Ukrainian internships at NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence

Today, during the visit to the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) in Tallinn, Ms Yuriko Backes, Minister for Defence of Luxembourg signed a declaration, under which Luxembourg will contribute financial support to the Ukraine Internships Programme in CCDCOE.

“For Luxembourg, supporting Ukraine in every way possible remains a priority. With cyber threats on the rise, the growing importance of ICT in the military domain and the still raging Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, I am pleased to sign the declaration of support to enable Ukrainian academics to undertake internships at NATO CCDCOE,” said Ms Yuriko Backes, Minister for Defence of Luxembourg.

“CCDCOE brings together 39 like-minded nations who stand as a coalition against cyber threats. Nation-sponsored initiatives like Luxembourg’s support for Ukraine are excellent examples of how CCDCOE is the best organization for building bridges and cyber defence cooperation among nations,” said Dr. Mart Noorma, Director of NATO CCDCOE. “Supporting the development of Ukraine’s new generation of leaders is the best thing we can do to better integrate Ukraine into the European Union and NATO.”

The Programme aims to support Ukrainian students, PhD students and academics in gaining cyber-specific experience and competences. In the framework of the programme, ten interns are expected at the CCDCOE over the next two years, working on projects that involve future technologies in the cyber field, international law and strategy.

Ukraine has been a member of NATO CCDCOE as a Contributing Participant since 2023.

The NATO CCDCOE is a NATO-accredited knowledge hub located in Tallinn, Estonia, offering a unique interdisciplinary approach to the most relevant issues in cyber defence. The heart of the CCDCOE is a diverse group of international experts from the military, government, academia, and industry, currently representing 39 sponsoring and contributing nations. The CCDCOE encourages and supports the process of mainstreaming cybersecurity into NATO and national governance and capability within its closely connected focus areas of technology, strategy, operations, and law. The CCDCOE is also responsible for identifying and coordinating education and training solutions in the field of cyber defence operations for all NATO bodies across the Alliance.