Information exchange across borders

12 November 2025

In times of increasing cyber threats and growing dependence on digital infrastructures, strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation in cyberspace has become a strategic priority for governments, armed forces, and industry partners. As NATO allies and EU members with shared security interests, Poland and Germany play an important role in shaping cyber resilience and promoting innovation in the defense sector.

In mid-October, the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Poland hosted the “Sharing Cyber 2025 Warsaw – Berlin” conference at the embassy in Berlin. The event provided a dedicated platform for high-level dialogue between decision-makers, military leaders, industry experts and scientists from both countries. The focus was on operational cooperation, technological innovation, and talent development to meet the changing challenges in cyberspace.

As a representative of the Research Institute Cyber Defense and Smart Data (CODE), PD Dr. Corinna Schmitt took part in a panel discussion on opportunities and challenges for cross-border cooperation between Germany and Poland during the conference. Among other things, this panel also addressed one of the key intersections of modern security policy: dual-use technologies in the field of cybersecurity. As cyber threats increasingly move between the civil and military spheres, it is becoming clear how indispensable innovations that serve both areas are – for national and collective security. Dual-use technologies – i.e., those that can be used for both civil and military purposes – open up enormous opportunities, such as faster innovation cycles, shared costs, and a broader talent pool. At the same time, they also pose challenges, particularly with regard to security issues, regulatory frameworks, and market dynamics. Especially for Poland and Germany, as NATO allies and partners in the European Union, this offers particular opportunities: while Germany has a strong industrial base and excellent research structures, Poland scores points with its strategic location and a dynamically growing technology sector. The aim of the panel discussion was to jointly examine how both countries could deepen their cooperation in the field of dual-use cybersecurity technologies – from research to operational implementation, from start-ups to military applications.

^{The conference in Berlin was attended by high-ranking representatives of the Polish and German Ministries of Defense, NATO and EU officials from the field of cyber defense, military commanders and cybersecurity experts, researchers and scientists from leading universities and institutes, as well as industry leaders and innovators who develop cyber and AI technologies.}

^{Photos: RI CODE / C. Schmitt}