Jonas Konrad, Junior Scientist at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, won the national championship title in the open class at the Austria Cyber Security Challenge (ACSC) 2025. The aim of the ACSC was to select Austria's best cyber talents and prepare them for the international stage, such as the European CyberSecurity Challenge (ECSC). As an expert in horizon scanning in innovation ecosystems at AIT, he is intensively involved in web mining and artificial intelligence. At the end of August, he and his team will also participate in DEF CON CTF in Las Vegas, one of the most elite hacking competitions in the world.
Final with top performances in Dornbirn
The final of the Austrian National Cyber Security Championship took place at the end of June 2025 as part of the ICT Security Conference of the Federal Ministry of Defence in Dornbirn. Over 60 finalists – including school pupils, students and professionals – competed against each other in a demanding eight-hour competition. The tasks ranged from reverse engineering and cryptography to web and wireless security, forensics, Android analysis, OSINT and hardware hacking. In addition to in-depth specialist knowledge, analytical thinking, creativity and perseverance were also required.
Excellence in cybersecurity
AIT has been researching innovative security solutions for a digitally connected society for many years. Among other things, it develops technologies and solutions to defend against cyber attacks. In addition, AIT conducts training and education programmes worldwide for public authorities, operators of critical infrastructures and companies based on its own special simulation platform, the AIT Cyber Range. Today, it is the world's first IAEA Collaborating Centre in the field of cybersecurity for nuclear safety in IAEA member states.
Platform for talent promotion
The ACSC is considered the most important initiative for young talent in the field of cyber security in Austria. It is organised annually by CyberSecurityAustria (CSA) and partners, supported by the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Education and the Federal Chancellery. The aim is to identify young talent at an early stage and prepare them for international competitions such as the European Cyber Security Challenge (ECSC).
More information www.cybersecurityaustria.at