AIRBUS CYBERSECURITY SAS

Their core work

Airbus Cybersecurity SAS is the dedicated cybersecurity division of the Airbus Group, providing security solutions for critical infrastructure across transport, energy, and industrial sectors. They specialize in threat detection, cyber-range simulation platforms, security assurance frameworks, and protecting IoT and connected systems. Their work spans from securing air transport and railway networks to safeguarding smart manufacturing environments and cloud-based urban mobility services. As part of a major aerospace and defense group, they bring industrial-grade security expertise to EU research consortia focused on protecting Europe's most sensitive systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2016-2018), Airbus Cybersecurity focused on securing connected vehicles and transport infrastructure — vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, threat modeling for automotive systems, and ICT architectures for automated road transport. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted markedly toward advanced threat detection (malware, stegomalware, ransomware via machine learning), cyber-range simulation platforms for preparedness training, and emerging trust technologies like self-sovereign identity and distributed ledgers. This evolution shows a move from protecting specific transport systems toward building broader, more sophisticated cybersecurity capabilities applicable across multiple critical sectors.

Moving toward AI-driven threat detection, federated cyber-range platforms, and decentralized identity/trust frameworks — positioning for next-generation security challenges in IoT-dense environments.

How they like to work

Airbus Cybersecurity overwhelmingly operates as a specialist partner rather than a consortium leader, coordinating only 1 of 15 projects (SeCoIIA, focused on industrial asset security). With 224 unique partners across 31 countries, they are a highly connected hub — a go-to cybersecurity partner that consortia recruit when they need industrial-strength security expertise. Their participation in both Innovation Actions (7) and Research Actions (6) shows they are comfortable spanning the full spectrum from applied research to near-market deployment.

Exceptionally broad network of 224 unique partners across 31 countries, making them one of the most well-connected cybersecurity actors in H2020. Their partnerships span across transport, energy, health, and digital sectors, giving them reach well beyond pure security projects.

What sets them apart

Unlike academic cybersecurity labs or pure-play security consultancies, Airbus Cybersecurity brings the operational security culture of a major defense contractor into civilian EU research projects. They can bridge the gap between theoretical security research and the practical demands of protecting real critical infrastructure — airports, railways, hospitals, power grids, and factories. Their rare combination of defense-grade expertise with an extensive EU research network makes them an ideal partner when a consortium needs credible, deployable security components rather than just published papers.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SATIE
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 1,037,138) — securing Europe's air transport infrastructure, directly aligned with Airbus's core domain.
• SeCoIIA
  Their only coordinator role (EUR 799,000) — securing collaborative industrial assets across aeronautics, automotive, and maritime, showing leadership ambition in Industry 4.0 security.
• FORESIGHT
  Built federated cyber-range simulation platforms for aviation, naval, and power-grid preparedness training — a reusable capability with high cross-sector value.