ECSO Joins The Hacking Games as Partner

April 17th, 2025 – The Hacking Games announces a strategic partnership with the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO) in its Community. This collaboration is part of ECSO’s acclaimed ‘Road2Cyber’ initiative, which aims to fortify Europe’s cybersecurity resilience through a platform and approach that provides a holistic approach to skills development and career advancement in cyber.

ESCO joins The Hacking Games mission to close the growing labor deficit, currently over 4 million globally, in cybersecurity through inspiring, training, and recruiting Gen Z talent. With the cost of Cybercrime forecasted to be $23trn in 2027, and 80% of NYC Teens polled having tried hacking before they were 16 years old, we are facing a generational crisis.

ECSO, a pivotal entity in Europe’s cybersecurity landscape, brings together over 330 stakeholders to promote strategic autonomy and cyber resilience across the continent. Established in 2016 as the European Commission’s partner for the Public-Private Partnership in Cybersecurity (2016-2020), ECSO has been building on the successes of that partnership to grow its membership and continue to empower cybersecurity communities through cooperation, community advocacy, public-private collaboration, and more. ECSO initiatives such as ‘Women4Cyber’ exemplify its commitment to advancing the cybersecurity sector through diversity, inclusion, and strategic partnerships.

Our partnership not only underscores the shared goals of The Hacking Games and ECSO through Road2Cyber, but also highlights our commitment to inclusivity and diversity in the cybersecurity workforce. The Women4Cyber Foundation is a testament to our mutual dedication to creating a balanced and dynamic cybersecurity landscape, where women are prominently involved and acknowledged as leaders and innovators. This partnership is designed to inspire, train, and recruit a generation of ethical hackers to make the world safer.

“Fostering a safer digital future requires not just innovation, but also collaboration, and that’s why ECSO has joined our Virtu-os Community. We want to amplify our impact and inspire a diverse generation of cybersecurity defenders” says Daan Dia, Head of Community and a Co-Founder of The Hacking Games.

“Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and our collaboration with The Hacking Games reflects our commitment to empowering the next generation of diverse, ethical cybersecurity professionals. We look forward to leveraging our Road2Cyber initiative with Women4Cyber to drive meaningful change alongside The Hacking Games in building a safer and more inclusive digital world for everyone” says Nina Olesen, Head of Sector at ECSO & COO at the Women4Cyber Foundation.

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