Rome, 28 February 2025 – The National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) and the National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes (ANVUR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration between the Agency and the academic sector in the field of cybersecurity.

The agreement was signed by the Director General of ACN, Bruno Frattasi, and the President of ANVUR, Professor Antonio Felice Uricchio.

The aim of the agreement is to foster the sharing of strategic objectives and the development of concrete projects, within the respective remits of the two Agencies, to support and promote scientific research and university education in the field of cybersecurity. It also seeks to ensure collaboration with public institutions involved in cybersecurity and to safeguard the integrity and security of scientific research.

Through the analysis of publicly and privately available databases on teaching and academic research, the agreement will also enable the collection of statistical data and information on courses, study programmes, and doctoral and research activities related to cybersecurity, with a particular focus on research outputs such as publications, doctoral theses, and software prototypes.

Furthermore, the parties commit to mapping the presence across the country of academic staff and researchers working in cybersecurity, identifying their Scientific-Disciplinary Sectors, bibliometric indicators, and national research projects in which they are involved. They have also agreed to produce a joint periodic report on the state of cybersecurity research in Italy.

On this occasion, ACN’s Director General Bruno Frattasi stated: “The pace of technological innovation requires us to build systems, facilitate communication, and enable collaboration between those who develop knowledge and those who apply and protect its freedom, independence, and integrity—just as the Government has advocated and as reiterated the other day by Undersecretary of State Alfredo Mantovano. The signing of this agreement is a particular source of satisfaction for the Agency, as it underscores the value we place on technoscience, education, and research in the cybersecurity field.”

“We are proud to launch this collaboration with ACN, which lays the foundations for a more informed digital culture by enhancing innovation in university research and teaching. This Protocol,” stated Professor Antonio Felice Uricchio, President of ANVUR, “strengthens the synergy between two Agencies working towards the shared goal of contributing to the development of our country. ANVUR plays a key role on two fronts: on the one hand, it promotes the collection and analysis of data related to teaching and scientific research outputs, ensuring their integrity and security through targeted institutional collaborations; on the other, it monitors the presence of academic expertise in the field of cybersecurity nationwide, while also observing growing interest among university and postgraduate students in this strategic area. Cybersecurity is both a challenge and an opportunity to support the evolution of the research and higher education system in Italy.”

“It is essential to promote a culture of cybersecurity as a key element in protecting the integrity of our skills, knowledge, and research activities. The collaboration between ACN and ANVUR plays a strategic role, establishing a framework for the development of research, evaluation, and academic teaching in the field of cybersecurity,” said the Minister of Universities and Research, Anna Maria Bernini. “We live in an era of rapid technological change,” the Minister continued, “and in order to turn this challenge into an opportunity for our university system, we must equip ourselves with the tools needed to ensure both innovation and the protection of knowledge.”

The Memorandum of Understanding, valid for three years, provides the framework for relations between ACN and ANVUR. Its implementation procedures will be defined through regular meetings and specific implementation agreements to support the co-design and monitoring of joint initiatives on topics of mutual interest.