France Builds Cyber Campus For Defense Center Against Cyber War

French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, during a review of the construction of the Cyber Campus. (photo: twitter @@BrunoLeMare)

JAKARTA – Countries around the world are now increasingly alert and aware of the dangers posed by cyber attacks. Even a cyber war is likely to ensue, as have been the case with tensions between Ukraine and Russia in recent weeks.

Anticipating this, the French government built a Cyber ​​Campus. They gathered the country's top cybersecurity experts in Paris' La Defense business district. They also bring together startups and home companies to tackle the scourge of hacking.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday, February 15 that early anticipation was needed so that his country would be able to tackle the problem of this hacking if it did happen.

"The inauguration of the Cyber ​​Campus is a major step in the implementation of the national cybersecurity strategy decided by @EmmanuelMacron. This is a vital issue for our sovereignty and an important economic opportunity for our entrepreneurs and start-ups," Le Marie tweeted.

L'inauguration du Campus Cyber ​​est une étape majeure dans la mise en uvre de la stratégie nationale de cybersécurité décidée par @EmmanuelMacron.C'est un enjeu vital pour notre souveraineté et une opportunité économique essentielle starts entrepreneurs. pic.twitter.com/2zHQOXPxKv

— Bruno Le Maire (@BrunoLeMare) February 15, 2022

Cyberattacks have become the number one concern of the world's top corporate executives, according to a PwC survey. Now its increasing number and sophistication can undermine the sovereignty of a country, French leaders say.

"France ... doesn't want to depend on foreigners," Le Maire said at the inauguration of the venue. "He wants to be independent in advanced technology."

The project drew inspiration from a similar establishment in Israel, CyberSpark, which was once a model for Michel Van Den Berghe, head of the French Cyber ​​Campus.

The campus will serve as a base for startups and cyber experts from some of the largest listed companies in France such as LVMH, L'Oreal and the biggest banks.

"For a startup, being in the same building as the biggest companies that can put their solutions in their catalogue, that's a great accelerator," said Van Den Berghe.

Cyber ​​Campus can accommodate 1,800 people. It is run by a company that is 44% owned and funded by the state, with the remaining capital divided among about 90 organizations, including leading state telecommunications firm Orange, defense firm Thales, software maker Sopra Steria and IT consulting firms Atos and Capgemini.