05/06/2026
The institutional event “AI and Cybersecurity for a Trustworthy Digital Europe: A Science for Policy Perspective", jointly organized by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission and the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), was held on June 4 in Brussels at the JRC headquarters on Rue du Champ de Mars.
The occasion for the event was the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions, a framework agreement aimed at strengthening scientific cooperation and promoting European policies based on solid, independent, and multidisciplinary evidence. The agreement, signed by JRC Director General Bernard Magenhann and CNR President Andrea Lenzi, represents a crucial investment in European scientific excellence. The collaboration aims to address the most pressing technological challenges while strengthening Italy’s role as the host country of one of the European Commission’s major scientific sites, the JRC in Ispra (VA).
During the event, a roundtable discussion with experts and policymakers addressed the growing reliance on artificial intelligence and the related cybersecurity challenges. A strong consensus emerged on the need for a “secure by design” and sustainable digital transformation, which is essential to ensuring the inclusive adoption of technologies across all sectors of the European digital space.
“At the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity lie some of the most significant opportunities and challenges of our time. The agreement signed today between the JRC and the Italian National Research Council (CNR) opens up new avenues for combining our expertise, strengthening our scientific capabilities, and transforming knowledge into concrete solutions for Europe,” says Bernard Magenhann. CNR President Andrea Lenzi notes, “Today in Brussels, at the heart of Europe, the JRC and the Italian National Research Council have signed an agreement that is not merely a formality, but a clear sign of our shared conviction in the power of research to shape a better future for Europe and the world. Europe should continue to strengthen its research capacity, while preserving its fundamental values - democracy, openness, trust - and linking science and policy, in light of the major political, economic, and social challenges we must face together."
“The CNR-JRC partnership stems from a shared vision: to establish a working dialogue between scientific communities to contribute to the development of forward-looking European policies,” it was emphasized during the ceremony. Following the opening remarks by Director General Magenhann, President Lenzi, Ambassador Marco Canaparo (Permanent Representative of Italy to the EU), and MEP Brando Benifei, a roundtable discussion was held, moderated by CNR Vice President Francesco Svelto. The debate featured prominent figures such as Jolita Butkeviciene and Igor Nai Fovino from the JRC, along with Francesco Saverio Cataliotti and Fabio Martinelli from the CNR, who outlined the scientific work carried out by the two organizations in the fields of AI and cybersecurity.
The event concluded with a networking session, reaffirming the shared commitment to building a safer and technologically sovereign digital Europe.
Media Contacts:
- JRC: Luisa Marino – luisa.marino@ec.europa.eu
- CNR: Anna Pelagotti – anna.pelagotti@cnr.it
- CNR Press Office: Alessandro Frandi – alessandro.frandi@cnr.it
- JRC-PRESS@ec.europa.eu
Ufficio stampa:
Alessandro Frandi
CNR
alessandro.frandi@cnr.it
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