Cyber-Defence Campus
Cyber threats have substantially increased in recent years. To this end, the Cyber Defence Campus (CYD) was founded in January 2019 in order to anticipate cyber developments more quickly. It forms the link between DDPS, industry and science in research, development and training for cyber defence.

What is the cyber-defence campus?
CYD Campus conferences
The Cyber-Defence Campus conference took place on 28 September 2021 in collaboration with the CRITIS 2021 (international Conference on Critical information Infrastructures Security). At the conference, experts from academia and industry held talks on key topics in the area of critical infrastructure protection. The conference brought together stakeholders from government, industry and academia to exchange insights on current and future challenges and drivers in cyberspace.
More information
Cyber Startup Challenge
In order to discover the startup technology landscape and to submit innovative and concrete solutions for the protection of critical infrastructures to the DDPS, the Cyber Startup Challenge of the CYD Campus was held for the first time in 2020.
With this year’s slogan«Boost your Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC)», innovative technological solutions in the field of cyber threat intelligence with a focus on critical infrastructure protection are sought. The technology of the winning company should have a significant impact on the daily work of cyber defence in Switzerland and will be integrated in the existing infrastructure of the DDPS.
More information
Collaboration with industry
One of our mission is to transfer new research developments and technologies into Proof of Concepts and prototypes for the Swiss Armed Forces. To achieve this goal, we work closely with academic institutions and industrial partners. Collaboration with startups and the established security-relevant technology and industry base (STIB) occurs via a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or in projects funded by armasuisse through research mandates. Organizations interested in collaborations should contact us here.
CYD Fellowships
Cyber Defence Research in Switzerland
Are you studying at a Swiss university and want to actively promote research in the area of safety and data sciences? Then the Cyber-Defence Fellowships could be just the right thing for you!
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology at Lausanne (EPFL) and the Cyber Defence (CYD) Campus have joined forces in research and education in the area of cyber defence. The Cyber-Defence Fellowships are open to researchers and students at master, PhD and postdoc level.
You can register at: Applicant Portal CYD Fellowship
Strategy Cyber DDPS
As a result of the changing ecosystem and the increasing threat of cyber attacks in all spheres of life, the Swiss government has declared cyber security a central and national security concern.
The Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS thus adopted the first action plan for DDPS cyber defence (APCD) in 2016. In view of the rapid development of the cyber threat situation over the last five years, the new Strategy Cyber DDPS has been developed for the period 2021-2024, and is based on the action plan. Both the action plan and the new Strategy Cyber DDPS are coordinated with the overarching National Strategy for the Protection of Switzerland against Cyber Risks (NCS). As the focus of the Strategy Cyber DDPS, the Head of the DDPS, Federal Councillor Viola Amherd, defines the areas of activity and the corresponding distribution of tasks. The CYD Campus has the following three key tasks:
- Early identification of trends in the cyber area: This includes comprehensive technology and market monitoring, international scouting of startups and maintaining a cooperation network.
- Research and innovation of cyber technologies: Through the cooperation with universities and industry, emerging cyber risks are identified and innovative solutions developed to effectively counter threats in cyberspace. In addition, the CYD Campus aims to ensure and enhance the security and resilience of existing cyber systems.
- Training cyber specialists: At the CYD Campus, talents are educated at master, PhD and postdoc level, and academic interns are trained for future challenges. In addition, CYD Campus subject matter experts define and supervise numerous student projects.

Publications
-
2021: 5G System Security Analysis
PDF, 47 Pages, 1 MB, English -
2020: Blockchain in Cyberdefence - A Technology Review from a Swiss Perspective
PDF, 22 Pages, 703 KB, English -
2020: Contact Tracing: An Overview of Technologies and Cyber Risks
PDF, 26 Pages, 761 KB, English
Articles
-
2021 (armafolio): Artificial intelligence in use against disinformation in social networks (in German)
PDF, 4 Pages, 725 KB, German -
2020 - Research Brochure: Cyber security in satellite communication
PDF, 4 Pages, 413 KB, English -
2019 - armafolio: How does artificial intelligence impact defence and security (in German)
PDF, 2 Pages, 372 KB, German -
2019 - armafolio: Detect cyber attacks in real time (in German)
PDF, 2 Pages, 619 KB, German -
2018 - armafolio: DDPS gives the go-ahead for Cyber Defence Campus at armasuisse S+T (in German)
PDF, 2 Pages, 190 KB, German
You can find here all the armafolio magazine issues (in German).
Annual Reports
-
Annual Report 2021 (in German)
PDF, 54 Pages, 4 MB, German
CH-3602 Thun
Auf der Mauer 17
CH-8001 Zurich
EPFL Innovation Park, Bâtiment I
CH-1015 Lausanne
- Tel.
- +41 58 480 59 34