The Belgian army is expanding its cyber capabilities with a new cybersecurity department in Bruges, located on the campus of Howest University of Applied Sciences.

Howest already offers a master’s programme in cybersecurity, and this new initiative aims to foster close collaboration between the army and academia, allowing innovations developed for the private sector to be adapted for military use, according to VRT NWS.

This department is part of the Cyber Command, the Belgian army’s fifth division alongside land, air, naval, and medical forces. While the main cyber unit is based in Brussels, Defence is actively seeking stronger ties with industry, universities, and research centers. A first Cyber Defence Factory was opened in Charleroi last year—Bruges will now host the second.

Strategic maritime focus

“Bruges was the obvious choice for a Flemish Cyber Defence Factory,” said Flemish MP and defence specialist Jasper Pillen, a native of Bruges. He helped connect Defence officials with the leadership at Howest. Pillen emphasized the city’s strong assets: a top-tier university college with a unique cybersecurity programme, proximity to other universities, military bases, key defence companies—and importantly, the sea.

Frederik D’Hulster, general director of Howest, echoed this point, noting that the Bruges campus will specialize in maritime cybersecurity due to its coastal location. “More than one hundred students graduate from our cybersecurity programmes each year,” he added. “For Defence, this means immediate access to a pool of highly trained young talent.” Photo by Ecole polytechnique, Wikimedia commons.