Critical infrastructure in focus at international conference

On 21-23 October, the School of Engineering (JTH) at Jönköping University (JU) host the 20th edition of the international conference CRITIS (Conference on Critical Information Infrastructures Security). The event brings together researchers, experts and representatives from industry and the public sector with a focus on critical infrastructure and information infrastructure.

"It is an honorable mission that strengthens our visibility and hopefully leads to new collaborations between academia, industry and the public sector," says Erik Bergström, Associate Professor of Computer Science at JTH and one of the local organizers of the conference.

The conference will be held at the Science Park Towers in Jönköping, Sweden, and aims to share new research and knowledge on how critical systems can be protected against cyber threats, technical failures and other risks. The theme is "Critical (Information) Infrastructure Security", with a particular focus on information sharing, hybrid threats, and the human and strategic aspects of critical infrastructure protection.

"We are trying to put cybersecurity on the map and CRITIS is an important piece of that puzzle. It is a good opportunity for us to be visible internationally in an area that is becoming increasingly important both for JTH and society at large," says Erik Bergström, who organizes the conference together with Joakim Kävrestad and Agnieszka Kitkowska, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Assistant Professor of Computer Science at JTH.

Researchers and experts from around the world

CRITIS 2025 brings together about 45 participants from 18 countries. Among them are Spaniards Jorge Barredo, Ikerlan Scoop, Lander Aguirregomezcorta from Orbik Cybersecurity and José Maria Garcia Del Pozo from Deloitte.

"I really appreciate the opportunity to meet cybersecurity researchers and experts from around the world at this conference. There are many interesting insights presented, which are useful both in professional and private life, says José Maria.

Studied cybersecurity at JTH

He and Lander Aguirregomezcorta graduated from the Cybersecurity master's programme at JTH this summer and presented their thesis during the conference. They enjoyed returning to Jönköping and meeting their former teachers Erik Bergström, Joakim Kävrestad and Agnieszka Kitkowska again.

"They were always friendly and helpful and Cybersecurity was a very good programme where we learned a lot that we can use in working life. Education in cybersecurity is generally very attractive to employers and when they hear that I have studied at JU, it often arouses great interest," says José Maria.

The speakers during the conference consist of:

• Marco Nilsson, Associate Professor of Political Science at the School of Education and Communication at JU

• Katarina Boustedt, research project manager at RISE's cybersecurity unit and research coordinator at Cybercampus Sweden

• Annelie Mannerström, who works with information security and security protection issues at Jönköping Energi.

Read more about the CRITIS conference here External link, opens in new window.