In 2015, the Research and Development and Innovation Consortium and ESI CEE united their efforts to carry out joint activities and cooperate with the common goal to establish the Cybersecurity Laboratory, managed by the Research and Development and Innovation Consortium, as a leading research center in the field of cybersecurity.
The laboratory works for the creation, development, and coordination of common national capacity in the following areas:
- Cyber-resilience and flexibility of information and management systems
- Situational awareness of the levels and impact of the digital dependence of society and economy, and the consequent risks and cyber-vulnerabilities, their prevention, and the overall preparedness for cyber-attacks and incidents
- Vulnerability research, threat modeling, and replication of cyber-physical systems with a potential cyber-hybrid impact
- Development of standards and methodologies for the design, development, and protection of cyber-dependent critical systems and resources, digital ecosystems, and the overall improvement of the cybersecurity posture of IT-intensive systems
The vision for the development of the Laboratory is related to its establishment as a regional center of competence for cybersecurity, with the main goal being to catalyze and participate in the cyber-specialization of Bulgaria within the EU and NATO.