CISPA: New cybersecurity research collaborator alert!

23 Sep 2025 | By Tendani Chimboza
Research
23 Sep 2025 | By Tendani Chimboza

A major milestone in international cybersecurity cooperation was reached this week as the Cybersecurity Capacity Centre for Southern Africa (C3SA) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) announced a new research collaboration with the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security in Germany.

The partnership, launched during a high-level visit to CISPA, brings together leading minds from Germany and South Africa to tackle some of the world’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges. Discussions focused on cybersecurity capacity development and trustworthy AI, setting the stage for impactful cross-institutional research and educational initiatives.

Highlighting the significance of the collaboration, UCT Professor Wallace Chigona delivered a lecture on “Effects of Institutional Pressures on Cybersecurity Capacity Development in Africa”, while WITS Professor Benjamin Rosman spoke on “Super Skilled: Building Safe, General Robots through Logical Behavior Composition”. Their insights underscored the importance of building capacity not just to fight cybercrime, but also to prepare for the future of AI-driven systems.

This collaboration is expected to deliver far-reaching benefits:

  • Knowledge Exchange: German expertise in advanced cybersecurity will merge with South African insights into the unique challenges of emerging markets, offering a more holistic view of global threats.

  • Research Innovation: Joint projects will explore solutions from multiple cultural, economic, and technological perspectives, enriching the global research agenda.

  • Educational Opportunities: Exchange programs, joint supervision, and globally relevant curricula will help address the urgent need for cybersecurity skills worldwide.

  • Policy Impact: Findings may inform practical, globally sensitive policies that strengthen resilience in diverse regional contexts.

More than just an academic partnership, this initiative recognizes that cyber threats know no borders. By combining diverse expertise and perspectives, CISPA, UCT, and WITS are paving the way for innovative solutions that build lasting cybersecurity capacity in Africa and beyond.

For more information regarding possible collaboration with us, email us on c3sa@uct.ac.za