Created: 2025.12.17. 13:34
Under the motto “The Security of the Future and the Importance of Military–Civil Cooperation,” the scientific and professional conference Military Cyberspace 2025 was held at the Győr Innovation Park of Széchenyi István University. At the event of national significance, special attention was devoted to the activities of the University’s Department of Modern Technology and Cybersecurity Law and the Department of Defence Innovation and Critical Infrastructure.
A scientific and professional conference was organized on 4 December by Széchenyi István University in cooperation with the Military National Security Service, the Ministry of Defence, and the University of Public Service. “Since 2021, the Military Cyberspace Conference has provided a forum for members of the armed forces, intelligence services, and university experts to discuss the most important challenges in this field, with the aim of advancing the cause of cybersecurity through joint professional reflection,” emphasized Dr Tamás Kenedli, Colonel of the Military National Security Service, at the opening of the event.
In his welcoming address, Major General Norbert Tajti, Director General of the Military National Security Service, highlighted the importance of the fact that the conference was hosted by a civilian institution. “Joint organization with Széchenyi István University also reinforces that we cannot be successful without intensive cooperation at the state and societal levels,” he stated. As he noted, today’s security environment has broken with the trends of the previous century, when the front line and the hinterland were clearly separated. “The black and white zones have merged, and security-threatening challenges are emerging in the grey zone,” he explained. He emphasized that Széchenyi István University is an innovative institution that demonstrates openness toward strengthening Hungary’s security, and that the conference represents an important milestone in their joint efforts.
Professor Ferenc Friedler, Rector of Széchenyi István University and Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs, explained that the security of cyberspace is one of the most important national security domains of the 21st century, which can only be addressed through military and academic cooperation. “Through our education programmes, research and development activities, and close industrial partnerships, we have established a knowledge centre that provides a foundation for both cybersecurity and defence innovations. It is no coincidence that Hungary’s first Department of Modern Technology and Cybersecurity Law, as well as the Department of Defence Innovation and Critical Infrastructure, were established at our University. The different perspectives of these two organizational units together create a platform through which we can respond to the fundamental questions of cybersecurity,” he underlined.
Representing the State Secretariat responsible for the governance of military national security, Gréta Nagy remarked that in cyberspace, peacetime is an unknown concept. Cyberattacks directed against civilians indicate that military operations are no longer confined to purely military targets. “These attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated through the use of artificial intelligence. The strongest defence is possible when we think at a whole-of-government level and build strong national resilience, where the resilience of public administration, industry, and society rests on stable pillars,” she noted. She added that the defence-related section of the National Cybersecurity Strategy published this year highlights that raising awareness, promoting cooperation, joint situational assessment, and the integration of innovation are indispensable elements of this effort.
Throughout the day, participants heard presentations from numerous renowned speakers, including Dr Ágnes Kasper (NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence), who spoke on the strategic importance and development of cybersecurity within NATO, and Professor Dr László Kovács, Major General (University of Public Service), who delivered a presentation on possible future directions for domestic cybersecurity education and research. Lieutenant Colonel Dr Ádám Farkas (Széchenyi István University, University of Public Service, Military National Security Service) gave an overview entitled “The Place and Role of Cyber and Information Operations Preparedness in the Comprehensive Development of National Security,” while Colonel Dávid Orosházi (National Security Service, National Cybersecurity Institute) presented on “The Development of the National Cybersecurity System and Cooperation with the Civil Sphere.”
At the conference, the two departments of the Győr-based university active in this field also introduced their work. The Department of Modern Technology and Cybersecurity Law of the Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences examines the legal aspects of cybersecurity and offers a nationally unique master’s programme entitled Law of Modern Technologies and Cybersecurity. Its head and the architect of the programme, Dr Roland Kelemen, delivered a lecture entitled “Interpreting Societal Resilience in Cyberspace.” The Department of Defence Innovation and Critical Infrastructures which began its operations in the current academic year, was presented by its head, Dr Ferenc Szauter, who outlined the department’s competencies. Staff members of the two organizational units—Dr Hedvig Szabó, Dr László Vikman and Dr Pál László Bárkányi—shed light on various defence-related issues from the perspectives of their respective fields during the event.
