The Hague Hosts ECSO Award Finals 2025 Celebrating Cybersecurity Excellence
The Hague, Thursday, 13 February 2025.
The ECSO Award Finals 2025 in The Hague on 21-22 May will showcase European cybersecurity innovations. The event will feature awards for startups and groundbreaking solutions from established companies.
Event Background and Organization
The prestigious event is organized by the European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO), established in June 2016 as an independent non-profit organization [5], in collaboration with several key partners including the Municipality of The Hague, Women4Cyber Foundation, Accenture, InnovationQuarter, KPN Ventures, TIN Capital, and Security Delta (HSD) [1][2][3]. The event follows the successful Dutch edition of the ECSO Cyber Investor Days held in October 2024 [1], demonstrating The Hague’s growing importance in Europe’s cybersecurity landscape.
Two-Day Competition Structure
The finals are structured across two distinctive days, each focusing on different segments of the cybersecurity industry [1][2]. On May 21, the ECSO STARtup Award will connect promising cybersecurity startups with potential investors, creating opportunities for innovation funding [1]. The following day, May 22, will feature the ECSO CISO Choice Award, where established European cybersecurity companies will present their most innovative solutions to be evaluated by leading Chief Information Security Officers [1][2].
Strategic Importance and Networking
The event represents a significant opportunity for the European cybersecurity ecosystem, taking place at the HSD Campus with a second venue to be announced [2][3]. As ECSO serves as a privileged partner of the European Commission for implementing the European Cyber Security Public-Private Partnership [5], this event plays a crucial role in strengthening Europe’s digital resilience and advancing its cybersecurity posture [1][5].
Innovation Assessment Framework
Evaluations will be conducted using sophisticated assessment criteria, supported by tools like the Cyberhive Matrix, which provides a comprehensive overview of European cybersecurity solutions [6][7]. This framework ensures that innovations are assessed not only for their technical merit but also for their alignment with European values and market requirements, focusing on factors such as operational sovereignty and market readiness [7].