Beyond Cybersecurity: Swiss-Africa CyberSec Community’s “Meet & Greet” Initiative Sparks New Collaboration Opportunities.
The Swiss-Africa Cybersecurity Community is doing more than just fostering cybersecurity-related exchange between African and Swiss partners. Through its newly launched «Meet & Greet» initiative, members can connect on a more personal level, fostering collaboration and exploring new initiatives beyond the core community framework.
The «Meet & Greet» exchange pairs members from different organizations within the CyberSec Community, allowing them to engage in open and dynamic discussions via Zoom or any preferred communication platform. These pairs engage in open-ended discussions beyond cybersecurity, exploring each other’s organizations, core strengths, ongoing projects, and potential areas for future collaboration. Beyond their assigned «Meet & Greet» partner, members can also connect with others in the community who share similar interests or complementary expertise.
A total of six «Meet & Greet» exchanges are scheduled throughout the Swiss-Africa Cybersecurity Community project, running until March 2026.
The first exchange, held between September and October 2024, received enthusiastic feedback, reinforcing the value of the initiative.
The following organisations were paired with one another: SwissLink Higher Institute of Business and Technology (SwissLink) and Africa Blockchain Institute (ABI); Turacos and University of Bern (UniBe); Haute École Arc Neûchatel and Hawassa University; and University of Buea and University of Ibadan.
SwissLink & ABI in their first Meet & Greet in October 2024.
Discussions in the first Meet & Greet exchange covered a wide range of topics, including industry trends, cultural perspectives, local challenges, and opportunities for research collaboration. The conversations were so engaging that one participant even suggested extending the allocated time for future sessions.
UniBe & Turacos in their first Meet & Greet held in October 2024.
With such promising outcomes, the «Meet & Greet» initiative is set to become a cornerstone of relationship-building within the Swiss-Africa Cybersecurity Community, strengthening professional networks and paving the way for meaningful partnerships beyond the scope of the current project.