What we research
We research
Discover cutting-edge cybersecurity, AI, immersive technology and web3 research with Cyber 3 Lab. At Howest, our research unit is at the forefront of supporting you in cybersecurity and immersive technology, particularly within a decentralized AI landscape. Our team comprises highly skilled experts and young potentials, each passionately engaged in international and national research endeavors.
Our state-of-the-art research infrastructure is uniquely equipped to tackle your digital transformation challenges and answer your most pressing questions. Learn more about our team members, projects, support services and infrastructure on this website.
Our expertise
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Highlights

Project
YET

Event
Immersive Tech & Digital Trust Lab

Event
Industrial/OT Security: Van Regelgeving naar Praktijk

Event
Metaverse & Web3 Experience Lab bezoek- en inspiratiemomenten

News
Why We’re Excited About Digital Product Passports, EUDI and European Business Wallets

News
NIS2 Update November 2025

News
Will GENIUS, Alipay and Digital Euro Push European Stablecoins?

News
Trust Infrastructure for AI Agents: Architecture Insights from LFDT Belgium Meetup

News
Behind the Hack: the Unlocked Storage Container

Event
NIS2 en CyFun in de Praktijk (Namiddagseminar)

News
The risks of AI for a user

News
CyberSecurity, AI & Web3 Community Events
Our expertise
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Our expertise
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
With the current advance of AI, Howest has multiple research groups that are exploring the possibilities of AI. We have been combining these areas of expertise since 2023 into an umbrella research group: Howest AI Lab.
Where TI's Cyber 3 Lab used to primarily focus on deploying AI in a security context and the research group of MCT focused on automating processes with AI, we at Howest AI Lab now mainly focus on combining all of our expertise to obtain the best end results for the customer.
Our AI projects
Cyber Security
Cyber Security
In light of the escalating complexity of modern technology and the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, the significance of dedicated research in the realm of cybersecurity has become more pronounced than ever.
The Cyber 3 Lab at Howest is not just a guardian against cyber threats; We are architects of digital resilience for industries navigating the intricate web of digitalization. We continue to innovate and collaborate across disciplines, our mission is clear: to forge a secure and sustainable path for industries to thrive in the dynamic landscape of digital transformation.
IT/OT Security projects
Web3 & Blockchain
Web3 & Blockchain
Cyber3Lab has been active in blockchain research and education since 2017. As a pioneer in applied trust frameworks, we explore how digital systems can become more transparent, secure, and user-centric. Our focus areas include blockchain, self-sovereign identity, and Solid data vaults. Technologies that empower individuals and organizations to control their own data in a decentralized way.
We lead and support national and international projects, deliver trainings, organize community events, and provide tailored advice to partners across sectors. As a neutral space, we connect public and private stakeholders to accelerate meaningful Web3 adoption. Cyber3Lab is a founding member of the Linux Foundation for Decentralized Trust (LFDT) and its European Chapter. Get in touch with us to build digital solutions that protect privacy, foster trust, are easy to use, and ready for real-world impact.
Our Web3 projects
Immersive tech
Immersive tech
The digital world is no longer flat. It is evolving from static 2D screens into immersive, intelligent 3D environments where people don’t just consume content, they experience it. At Cyber3Lab, we explore the frontier of immersive technologies. Together with our app and backend researchers, we design and develop cutting-edge solutions in Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) that redefine how people interact with the digital world.
We go beyond technology. We explore new, refreshing creative concepts and transform them into powerful interactive experiences with real added value for companies, education, healthcare, and smart cities. We work closely togheter with other research groups at Howest, we strengthen internal research initiatives, including projects such as the YET app and Healthy Ageing
IT projects
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Cyber3Lab in action
Our mission and vision
Mission and goals
Our mission
— Empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and citizens through Cutting-Edge Research and Innovation in Web3, AI, Cybersecurity, and Immersive Technologies.
Our vision
— To be a leading applied research unit at the forefront of Web3, AI, Cybersecurity, and Immersive Technologies, driving transformative solutions that enhance the competitiveness and resilience of citizens and SMEs locally and on European scale.
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Daniel Du Seuil, Research Manager Cyber 3 Labs
Want to know more about our team?
Visit the team page

What others say about us
Swipe
We are very pleased with the pen test performed by Howest's research group. They helped us identify vulnerabilities in our systems and provided valuable recommendations to improve our security. Their expertise and professionalism were impressive. We highly recommend Howest's research group for pentest services.
AZ Rivierenland — Rumst, Belgium
We collaborated with the team at Howest and UGent, focused on improving employee participation. The results were amazing! The app helped us streamline communication, gather employee feedback and increase engagement. We are impressed with the expertise and professionalism of the team at Howest. Thank you for your great work!
WZC De Linde — Lievegem, Belgium
Thanks to Howest, we were able to implement an innovative app that significantly improved employee participation. The app has several features, such as sharing ideas, asking questions and organizing polls. Our employees are excited about the opportunity to actively participate in decision-making processes and feel involved in the company. We are very satisfied with our cooperation with Howest and highly recommend them!
Delrue Group — Anzegem, Belgium
We are very positive about the cooperation. It's incredible what the team at Cesar has accomplished in a short period of time. They are very hands-on and thoughtful. Their final solution is also very user-friendly. We have experienced at first hand the advantages of a partner who can think out concepts and at the end of the ride present a working proof of concept. This tastes like more.
Patricia Vandelanotte — CEO Initeam
The OT cybersecurity workshop is an eye-opener for many. The workshop shows how resourceful someone with bad intentions can be and the examples we saw only appealed to the imagination. With the capture the flag exercise we learned to discover this ingenuity in a playful way.
Zeno Gillis — Software & Robotics Engineer, RoboJob
- Metaverse
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- DigitalHealth
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- Cybersecurity
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- Quantum Computing
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- Web Development
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- Cryptography
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- 5G
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- AI Act
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- NFTs
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- Interactive Installations
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- AI risks
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- Blockchain
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- System Engineer
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- Linux
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- Internship
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- Experience Labs
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- Energy
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- Flutter Development
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- UX/UI
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- LF Decentralized Trust
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- Maritime Cybersecurity
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- Software Engineering
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- Project Management
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- Tokenisation
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- Web3
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- DLT
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- Business Model Canvas
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- Meetups
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- digital identity
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- EU Business Wallets
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- Web3Finance
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- Encryption
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- OT Security
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- AI in health
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- Metaverse
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- DigitalHealth
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- Cybersecurity
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- Quantum Computing
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- Web Development
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- Cryptography
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- 5G
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- AI Act
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- NFTs
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- Interactive Installations
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- AI risks
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- Blockchain
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- System Engineer
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- Linux
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- Internship
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- Experience Labs
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- Energy
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- Flutter Development
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- UX/UI
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- LF Decentralized Trust
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- Maritime Cybersecurity
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- Software Engineering
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- Project Management
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- Tokenisation
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- Web3
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- DLT
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- Business Model Canvas
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- Meetups
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- digital identity
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- EU Business Wallets
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- Web3Finance
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- Encryption
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- OT Security
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- AI in health
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- Ethical Hacking
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- VLAIO
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- LFDT
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- Android Development
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- Decentralized Identity
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- Masterclasses
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- Sustainability
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- EFRO
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- EU Regulation
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- Solid
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- Networking Events
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- Business plans
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- 3D
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- EUDI
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- Finance
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- DPP
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- Backend Development
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- CyFun
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- LLM RAGS
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- Open Source
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- Digital Product Passports
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- Digital Twins
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- IT infrastructure
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- Immersive Tech
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- Smart City
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- Self Sovereign Identity
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- Virtual Reality
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- IT Security
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- Hyperledger
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- SME
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- Go to market
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- Big Data
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- Agentic AI
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- EBSI
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- Ethical Hacking
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- VLAIO
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- LFDT
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- Android Development
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- Decentralized Identity
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- Masterclasses
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- Sustainability
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- EFRO
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- EU Regulation
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- Solid
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- Networking Events
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- Business plans
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- 3D
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- EUDI
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- Finance
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- DPP
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- Backend Development
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- CyFun
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- LLM RAGS
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- Open Source
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- Digital Product Passports
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- Digital Twins
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- IT infrastructure
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- Immersive Tech
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- Smart City
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- Self Sovereign Identity
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- Virtual Reality
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- IT Security
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- Hyperledger
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- SME
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- Go to market
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- Big Data
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- Agentic AI
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- EBSI
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- Computer Vision
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- AI in cybersecurity
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- Start-ups
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- ICIL4
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- User group meetings
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- Digital transformation
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- IOS Development
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- Regulation
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- yolo-v8
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- Nanopore sequencing
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- Administration
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- Public sector
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- Digital Trust
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- DeFi
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- Food
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- XR
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- Community Building
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- Artificial Intelligence
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- Blue economy
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- DevOps
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- AI in energy
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- NIS2
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- Security Operations Center
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- drones
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- Hackathon
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- Generative AI
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- AI Agents
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- Pentesting
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- Circular economy
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- AI legislation
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- Secure AI
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- Ransomware
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- Digital Europe
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- Business innovation
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- International project
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- Computer Vision
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- AI in cybersecurity
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- Start-ups
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- ICIL4
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- User group meetings
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- Digital transformation
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- IOS Development
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- Regulation
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- yolo-v8
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- Nanopore sequencing
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- Administration
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- Public sector
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- Digital Trust
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- DeFi
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- Food
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- XR
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- Community Building
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- Artificial Intelligence
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- Blue economy
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- DevOps
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- AI in energy
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- NIS2
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- Security Operations Center
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- drones
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- Hackathon
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- Generative AI
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- AI Agents
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- Pentesting
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- Circular economy
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- AI legislation
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- Secure AI
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- Ransomware
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- Digital Europe
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- Business innovation
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- International project
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