[For non Japanese Speakers]

Organization for Cyber Defense Innovation

About CYDEF2026

CYDEF2026 Enters a New Era: From Global Dialogue to Global Impact — Evolving into an International Innovation Platform that Connects Government Challenges with Startup Technologies

The Organization for Cyber Defense Innovation (OCDI) is pleased to announce that CYDEF2026 – International Conference on Cyber Defense Innovation 2026 will be held in Tokyo on 9–10 December 2026.

This year marks a transformative milestone for CYDEF. Moving beyond the traditional role of an international conference where experts merely exchange ideas, CYDEF2026 will evolve into a genuine international innovation platform that transforms dialogue into action, ideas into implementation, and collaboration into real-world impact.

By bringing together governments, military organizations, research institutes, universities, industry leaders, and—for the first time—innovative startups from around the world, CYDEF2026 will create an ecosystem where global challenges meet breakthrough technologies. A major new initiative, Challenge Matching, will debut at CYDEF2026. This program will connect the pressing Needs of governments, critical infrastructure operators, and industry with the innovative Seeds developed by startups, researchers, and engineers.

Rather than simply discussing cybersecurity challenges, Challenge Matching aims to accelerate technology adoption, collaborative research, public-private partnerships, and the creation of new businesses that strengthen national resilience in the AI era. Through this initiative, CYDEF becomes far more than an international conference.

It becomes a global platform that unites government, academia, industry, and startups to accelerate innovation, foster international collaboration, and transform cutting-edge technologies into practical solutions for society. In advance of the conference, OCDI will officially launch sponsorship opportunities on 13 July 2026, together with an international competition to select the official symbol mark representing the conference theme.

Conference Theme: National Resilience in the age of AI

Artificial Intelligence, quantum technologies, big data, and other emerging technologies are fundamentally reshaping societies, economies, and national security. At the same time, geopolitical instability—including the war in Ukraine, the evolving situation in the Middle East, and tensions across the Taiwan Strait—demonstrates that modern conflict now extends beyond the traditional domains of land, sea, and air into cyberspace, the information domain, and outer space.

National Resilience in the Age of AI

Participants will examine how technological innovation, evolving security environments, and international cooperation can strengthen the resilience of nations and societies.

Four Reasons to Attend CYDEF2026

1. Understand Today’s Security Challenges

Gain first-hand insights from leading experts and practitioners working on the front lines of today’s most significant security challenges, including Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Taiwan Strait.

Learn how their experiences and lessons can strengthen resilience in Japan and across the Indo-Pacific.

2. Explore Tomorrow’s Technologies

Discover the latest developments in Generative AI, quantum technologies, big data, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies.

Discussions will explore both the transformative opportunities and the strategic risks these technologies present for governments, industry, and society.

3. Experience Crisis Management in Practice

CYDEF2026 goes beyond lectures.

Participants will engage in practical workshops organized by NATO-related institutions and international experts, together with tabletop exercises (TTX) focusing on the protection of critical infrastructure.

These exercises will simulate complex crises involving cyberattacks, natural disasters, supply chain disruptions, and information operations, providing participants with practical skills for real-world crisis response.

4. Shape the Future Together

CYDEF2026 will bring together governments, research institutes, universities, and companies from Europe, North America, and the Indo-Pacific.

The conference aims to produce the Tokyo Declaration, outlining future directions for international cooperation in cyber defense, security research, and workforce development.

CYDEF also seeks to establish long-term partnerships among governments, academia, and industry to build a sustainable international ecosystem for innovation.

Key Program Highlights (Currently Being Finalized)

Keynote Addresses

• ・Cyber Warfare in Ukraine
• ・National Resilience in the Middle East
• ・Security Challenges across the Taiwan Strait
• ・The Frontiers of AI and Quantum Technologies
• ・Security in the Indo-Pacific

Panel Discussions

• ・AI and National Security
• ・Cyber Operations in Modern Warfare
• ・Cognitive and Information Warfare
• ・Space Security
• ・Economic Security and Supply Chain Resilience

International Workshops

• ・NATO Workshop
• ・International Cyber Law
• ・Counterintelligence
• ・Security Challenges in the AI Era/li>
• ・Developing the Next Generation of Cyber Professionals

Policy Workshops

• ・Critical Infrastructure Protection
• ・Energy Security
• ・Disaster Preparedness and Crisis Management
• ・Public-Private Cooperation for National Resilience

Critical Infrastructure Protection Tabletop Exercise (TTX)

A practical multinational exercise simulating cyberattacks, natural disasters, supply chain disruptions, and information operations.

Conference Overview

Call for Sponsors

CYDEF2026 invites corporations and organizations that share our vision of strengthening national resilience in the AI era to become official sponsors.

The conference provides an exceptional opportunity to showcase your organization before an international audience of government officials, critical infrastructure operators, defense and cybersecurity professionals, universities, research institutes, and international organizations. Sponsors will gain access to new strategic partnerships, collaborative research opportunities, talent development initiatives, and global visibility.

Sponsorship Opens:

13 July 2026

Website:

https://2026.cydef.net/en/sponsors/

Official Symbol Mark Competition

CYDEF2026 invites designers worldwide to create the conference’s official symbol mark representing the following theme.

The competition is open to professionals and amateurs alike, regardless of age, nationality, or whether entries are submitted individually or by groups.

Theme

National Resilience in the Age of AI.

Deadline

31 July 2026

Evaluation Criteria

• ・Relevance to the conference theme
• ・Creativity and originality
• ・Visual impact and versatility
• ・International appeal

The winning design will become the official symbol mark of CYDEF2026 and will be featured across conference publications, websites, promotional materials, videos, and official merchandise.

Call for Donations

Supporters who contribute to the activities of CYDEF will receive exclusive commemorative gifts as a token of our appreciation.

Donors are kindly requested to provide their name, address, and donation amount when contacting:

For more information please visit the following site

Request for Donations

Yokoso.cydef@cydef.org

Our Vision

The world stands at a defining moment.

CYDEF2026 is designed not only as a place to understand emerging threats and technological innovation, but also as a catalyst for building practical solutions, fostering international partnerships, and shaping the future of national resilience.

Through CYDEF2026, we aspire to establish Japan as a global hub for cyber defense innovation and to build a sustainable international network for research, education, talent development, and public-private collaboration throughout the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Together, we will move beyond discussion—toward innovation, implementation, and lasting global impact.

About CYDEF

The world stands at a defining moment.

CYDEF2026 is designed not only as a place to understand emerging threats and technological innovation, but also as a catalyst for building practical solutions, fostering international partnerships, and shaping the future of national resilience.

Through CYDEF2026, we aspire to establish Japan as a global hub for cyber defense innovation and to build a sustainable international network for research, education, talent development, and public-private collaboration throughout the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Together, we will move beyond discussion—toward innovation, implementation, and lasting global impact.

This conference brings together experts in the field of cyber defense from around the world, to disseminate information, share awareness and establish collaboration. It aims to deepen and broaden understanding of these objectives through discussions.

Since its inaugural meeting in 2018, CYDEF has consistently grown, attracting approximately 400 speakers and 6500 audience members over the past eight years.

Now in its ninth year, CYDEF2026 marks a significant shift in approach. Whereas session organization had previously been delegated to individual research institutes, this year we adopted a new direction: a program panel composed primarily of representatives from relevant ministries directly reviewed and selected the session themes. As a result, the program has evolved into a more practice-oriented forum that connects policy, research, and frontline operational realities.

Moving forward, we aim to position CYDEF as a key hub for collaboration between industry, government and academia, both domestically and internationally.

Conference Features

Invitation of experts from all over the world

As in previous years, we will invite distinguished figures in the field of cyber defense innovation, including government ministers, cyber ambassadors, cyber commanders, university researchers and corporate executives from various countries.

Facilitating understanding through simultaneous Japanese-English subtitles

To assist those who are not proficient in Japanese, simultaneous Japanese-English subtitles are provided, enabling participants to follow the proceedings by listening to expert discussions that have been appropriately translated, including those on specialized fields.