The 11th edition of the European Cybersecurity Challenge (ECSC) was held from October 6 to 9, 2025, in Warsaw, Poland, with Italy proudly taking the top spot. This event, which brings together the most talented young cybersecurity professionals from across Europe, saw Italy coming in first place, followed by Denmark in second place and Germany securing third.
Hosted by Poland’s National Research Institute, NASK, and supported by the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), the ECSC 2025 welcomed 39 teams representing EU Member States, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, EU candidate countries, and international guest teams. Several additional delegations also attended as observers, signaling future participation intentions.
Leadership Voices Highlight the Importance of Cybersecurity
The event was officially opened by Krzysztof Gawkowski, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland and Minister of Digital Affairs, alongside Radosław Nielek, Director of NASK. Gawkowski emphasized the growing importance of cybersecurity in the modern era, stating, “Cybersecurity is now a pillar of state and citizen safety. These competitions are, of course, a game, but one of great importance – because we live in a time of hybrid warfare, in which cyberattacks are just as dangerous as those carried out in the real world.” He praised Polish cybersecurity teams for consistently demonstrating world-class talent throughout the competition’s history.
Radosław Nielek highlighted the intensity of the contest, remarking, “I watched the results change every minute, with one team or another taking the lead. This shows how close the competition was and that the absolute best were fighting it out here.” Nielek also emphasized the collaborative spirit behind the ECSC, noting that the event goes beyond rivalry by building connections and partnerships that will help shape the future of European cybersecurity.
Juhan Lepassaar, Executive Director of ENISA, described the ECSC as a vital platform that tests not only participants’ technical skills but also their critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork under pressure. “The European Cybersecurity Challenge, therefore, remains a comprehensive learning tool to develop the workforce needed in Europe and anticipate the demands for cybersecurity expertise jobs,” Lepassaar explained.
Similarly, Luca Tagliaretti, Executive Director of the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre, stressed the ECSC’s role in fostering shared values and cooperation. He stated, “The Challenge promotes shared values: trust, responsibility, the spirit of cooperation in diversity, the very same principles needed to strengthen and secure Europe’s digital future.” He added that the competition is an important stepping stone for the next generation of cybersecurity experts to connect, learn, and build lasting relationships.
Intense Challenges and Teamwork Define the Competition
The competition itself spanned two days and included a variety of Capture the Flag (CTF) challenges. Day one followed a Jeopardy-style format, while day two featured an Attack/Defense scenario. Contestants faced challenges in hardware security, web and mobile security, cryptography, reverse engineering, binary exploitation, and digital forensics. Success required more than just technical knowledge; quick decision-making and teamwork under dynamic conditions were crucial.
Awards were presented during the closing ceremony by NASK Director Radosław Nielek, Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski, ENISA’s Head of Capacity Building Evangelos Ouzounis, and Josef Pichlmayr from the ECSC executive committee. Italy was recognized as the champion, Denmark as runner-up, and Germany took third place.
The Female+ Bootcamp Initiative
Following the main event, a Female+ Bootcamp was held at NASK’s premises on October 10 and 11. This initiative aimed to promote diversity in cybersecurity by providing female participants from national teams with technical training, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
The bootcamp’s goal is to build confidence and skill among women in cybersecurity, culminating in the formation of a Female Team Europe. This team is set to represent Europe at an international female cybersecurity competition scheduled for 2026 in Dublin, Ireland.
