The Cyber Security Cluster Bonn bundles all security institutions in the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg region from science, research and education, industry, public authorities and public institutions and creates a platform for national and international exchange on this topic. The association was founded in October 2018 and presented to the public one month later. One goal of the initiative is to contribute to developing the region into an internationally recognized cyber security location and to make Bonn a "heart of cyber security in Europe".
In and around Bonn there is a unique mixture of politics, economy and science in the field of operative cyber security. The topic shapes the location and gives thousands of people work every day. The Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the Federal Network Agency, the Cyber and Information Domain Service (CIR) of the Federal Armed Forces, the Federal Data Protection Commissioner, Telekom Security, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution or the Fraunhofer Institutes FKIE, FIT and IAIS – they all have their headquarters in the region. And they all work intensively on the topic and with the City of Bonn, the Rhein-Sieg district, the Bonn / Rhein-Sieg Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the North Rhine-Westphalian State Police and the Deutsche Telekom, Deutsche Post/DHL and Postbank groups based here, as well as diverse medium-sized companies. The Cyber Security Cluster Bonn connects these and other institutions even more closely and intensifies their collaboration.
The cluster organizes events to create Cyber Security awareness in companies and society, such as the Cyber Security Tech Summit Europe, a major conference with national and international guests from business, science and politics that takes place annually at the World Conference Center Bonn.
Furthermore, the initiative is committed to the transfer of cyber security know-how into practice. This is done through the development of blueprints for the protection of companies against cyber risks as well as cooperation with educational institutions and universities for the practice-oriented further development of training and continuing educational programs and for a coordinated strategy to strengthen the skilled workforce.
In addition, a Wise Council of Cyber Security Experts was founded to advise governments and businesses on issues relating to this topic. It is also planned to support selected Cyber Security startups in cooperation with the Digital Hub Bonn AG as well as to strengthen international ties with other security locations.
The founding members include the City of Bonn, the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Fraunhofer Society, the Bonn Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, Deutsche Telekom, the Deutsche Post DHL Group, anykey GmbH, axxessio GmbH, CONET Solutions GmbH and Skymatic GmbH.