AIRBUS PROTECT GMBH

Their core work

Airbus Protect GmbH is the cybersecurity arm of the Airbus Group, based near Munich. They specialize in securing industrial systems, critical infrastructure, and digital manufacturing environments against cyber threats. Their H2020 work focuses on protecting connected industrial assets across sectors like aeronautics, automotive, maritime, and energy — bringing large-enterprise security expertise to EU research consortia. They bridge the gap between IT security and operational technology (OT) security in complex industrial settings.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Airbus Protect entered H2020 relatively late (2019-2021), so their portfolio represents a concentrated snapshot rather than a long evolution. Their trajectory shows a clear pattern: starting with broad cybersecurity competence-building (CONCORDIA), moving into securing smart manufacturing environments (SeCoIIA), and then applying the same principles to energy infrastructure (CyberSEAS). The direction is from general cyber competence toward sector-specific operational technology security.

They are moving from broad cybersecurity R&D toward securing specific critical sectors (manufacturing, energy), making them a strong partner for any project needing industrial OT security expertise.

How they like to work

Airbus Protect operates exclusively as a participant, never leading consortia — consistent with a large corporate entity contributing specialist expertise rather than managing research projects. With 98 unique partners across 23 countries in just 3 projects, they join large, pan-European consortia (averaging 30+ partners per project). This signals they are comfortable in complex multi-partner environments and bring corporate-grade cybersecurity resources that smaller partners typically lack.

Despite only 3 projects, Airbus Protect has built connections with 98 distinct partners across 23 countries, reflecting their participation in major European cybersecurity initiatives. Their network spans most of the EU, with no visible geographic concentration beyond Germany as a home base.

What sets them apart

As a subsidiary of one of Europe's largest aerospace and defense companies, Airbus Protect brings real-world, high-stakes cybersecurity operational experience that academic partners simply cannot replicate. Their strength is applying defense-grade security thinking to civilian industrial challenges — securing factories, energy grids, and connected vehicles. For consortium builders, they offer both technical depth in OT security and the credibility of the Airbus brand when approaching industrial end-users.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SeCoIIA
  Their largest funded project (EUR 675K) and most technically specific — securing collaborative industrial assets across aeronautics, automotive, and maritime with digital twins and AI.
• CyberSEAS
  Extends their cybersecurity expertise into the energy sector, demonstrating cross-sector adaptability from manufacturing to critical energy infrastructure.
• CONCORDIA
  A flagship European cybersecurity competence network, positioning Airbus Protect within the core EU cyber research community.