NAUKOWA I AKADEMICKA SIEC KOMPUTEROWA PANSTWOWY INSTYTUT BADAWCZY

Their core work

NASK (Research and Academic Computer Network) is Poland's national research institute for cybersecurity and network infrastructure. They operate large-scale threat detection systems including honeypots, darknets, and sandboxes to monitor and analyze malware, botnets, and emerging cyber threats across Europe. Beyond technical operations, NASK contributes to cybersecurity policy, skills development, and certification frameworks, serving as a bridge between technical threat intelligence and governance-level cybersecurity strategy.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

NASK's early H2020 work (2016-2019) was deeply technical — building sensor infrastructure, analyzing malware, tracking botnets, and producing threat data feeds through the SISSDEN project they coordinated. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted toward governance, policy, and ecosystem-building: cybersecurity skills and certification (SPARTA), securing digital service chains (GUARD), and international dialogue. This reflects a clear progression from hands-on threat intelligence operations toward shaping the broader European cybersecurity framework.

NASK is moving from pure technical threat intelligence toward cybersecurity ecosystem governance, skills frameworks, and cross-border trust mechanisms — positioning them for policy-adjacent and capacity-building projects.

How they like to work

NASK mostly joins consortia as a participant (3 of 4 projects) but proved capable of leading when they coordinated SISSDEN, their largest project by far. With 70 unique partners across 19 countries from just 4 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia — typical of flagship EU cybersecurity initiatives. This broad network suggests they are well-connected and comfortable working across institutional and national boundaries.

NASK has built a remarkably wide network for a modest project count: 70 unique partners across 19 countries from just 4 projects. This indicates participation in major pan-European cybersecurity consortia with strong connections across the EU.

What sets them apart

NASK combines operational cybersecurity capability (running real sensor networks and threat feeds) with policy-level engagement in EU cybersecurity frameworks — a rare dual competence. As Poland's national research network institute, they bring both infrastructure and institutional authority that few partners can match. For consortium builders, they offer a credible Polish anchor with hands-on technical depth and strong European connections.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SISSDEN
  NASK's only coordinated project and by far their largest (EUR 1.08M), building a pan-European sensor network for threat intelligence with honeypots, darknets, and free remediation feeds.
• SPARTA
  Major European cybersecurity competence network addressing skills, certification, and research governance — signals NASK's move into strategic cybersecurity policy.
• GUARD
  Focused on securing digital service chains with cross-domain trust mechanisms, showing NASK's capability in applied security for complex digital ecosystems.