Cybersecurity, a major challenge for the region

The issues of digital confidence and data protection are major economic and geopolitical challenges. A crucial challenge for businesses, citizens and public authorities, cybersecurity also represents a booming economic sector in Lille’s metropolitan area, which is home to several world-class Nordic companies. The InCyber Forum (FIC) is therefore an opportunity for Lille Metropole to reiterate its strong political commitment to digital security, by highlighting metropolitan projects and initiatives presented during the show.

The InCyber Forum

Launched in 2007 by the Gendarmerie Nationale (France’s military police), the International Cybersecurity Forum (now renamed the InCyber Forum) has established itself as Europe's go-to event for digital security and trust. In 2023, the forum welcomed over 20,000 trade visitors from 100 different countries to Lille Metropole, including 50 high-level international delegations, 650 exhibitors and 460 speakers.

Lille Metropole has taken part in the InCyber Forum since 2020, and has made cybersecurity a key issue. Like every year, the program was densely packed. To personalise the visit to the InCyber Forum for the local authorities, public structures and European metropoles in attendance, a guided tour was organized. This tour, led by local players including the Cyber Campus and CITC (Centre d'Innovation des Technologies sans Contact), enabled participants to find out more about the Forum, Lille Metropole’s ecosystem and the challenges of cybersecurity for public authorities.

Indeed, the InCyber Forum was an opportunity to bring together the international cybersecurity community in the Metropolitan region. Lille Metropole is deeply involved in the cyber sector and, with over 70 specialist companies and no fewer than 6,500 local jobs in the field, was proud to welcome around 100 representatives of the international Incyber community to the launch of the 16th edition of the InCyber Europe Forum (FIC) at Lille Grand Palais. The numerous guests took part in an ice-breaking session featuring specialists from many foreign countries (England, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Cyprus, Switzerland, Romania, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, USA and Japan).

This year's event also saw the launch of the "European cyber cup (EC2)", an ethical hacking competition of which Lille Metropole is a long-standing partner. The aim of the ethical hacking competition is to identify high-potential talents, to showcase the full range of cybersecurity-related professions and skills in a fun way, and to communicate cyber security approaches to the general public, businesses and public players. For the 2024 edition of the EC2 competition, 20 teams of 10 players competed in several challenges with a focus on energy sobriety.

Finally, another highlight of the event was the signing of an agreement between the InCyber Forum (FIC) and Lille Metropole. This agreement will strengthen the partnership between the two organizations until 2029.

Lille Metropole’s Cybersecurity ecosystem

By hosting the InCyber Forum since 2007 and until at least 2029, Lille Metropole is demonstrating its commitment as a pioneer in cybersecurity and in the digital transition. In 2009, Lille Metropole founded EuraTechnologies, a site of excellence dedicated to the digital sector and recently ranked number 1 startup hub in France by the Financial Times (30th in Europe). This illustrates Lille Metropole’s strong committment over the years to building a cyber territory, as well as Lille Metropole’s unique expertise in supporting innovative companies, from their inception to their international deployment.

Home to world leaders implemented within and operating from Lille Metropole’s territory (Orange, ATOS, Thalès, Cap Gemini, IBM Cyber), and a supporter of the region's 70 emblematic companies (OVH unicorn, Advens, Scalair, Dhymiotis, MC2 Technologies,Vade, Whispeak, ...), Lille Metropole is also an incubation territory that has enabled the inception and development to the two biggest cyber solutions publishers in France: Stormshield (Villeneuve d'Ascq) and Vadesecure (Hem).

Furthermore, Lille Metropole supports research with the University of Lille, the establishments of the University and Polytechnic Federation of Lille, and their specialized Cybersecurity training courses, as well as research teams such as the CRISTAL laboratory, which brings together teams from the CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research), INRIA (French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation), Centrale Lille Institute and the University of Lille.

It is largely thanks to this political ambition on the part of Lille Metropole that France's first Territorial Cyber Campus was created in 2023 at the heart of EuraTechnologies, and that Lille Metropole was awarded the very first Territorial Cyber Campus label to EuraTechnologies in May 2022 (during the FIC, which has now become the InCyber Forum. The Cyber Campus, inaugurated in 2023, is home to the Cyber Incident Response Center (CSIRT), which provides free assistance to local authorities, businesses and associations.

Want to learn more ?

You can find more information on the InCyber Forum website, including the program for the 2024 edition.