FAQ on the Cyberagentur
The Cyberagentur team has set out with the mission of contributing to Germany’s future cyber security. The major aim is to harness key technologies and groundbreaking innovations that will help to enable and improve internal and external security. To this end, we are asking ourselves many questions: What capabilities need to be expanded and developed in order to recognize threats from and in cyberspace, prevent them and respond appropriately? What trends and developments are there and what challenges will this pose for securing cyberspace in the future? What will Germany and Europe need to be able to do in ten to 15 years’ time in order to keep cyberspace secure for individuals, the economy, government agencies and society? What tools, knowledge and skills do criminologists, IT security experts, Bundeswehr soldiers and intelligence service employees need to counter new and old threats in global cyberspace? The Cyberagentur focuses on the specific questions of those who work for internal and external security on a daily basis: The key technologies and groundbreaking innovations are primarily intended to be helpful for the work of authorities and organizations with security tasks, the German Armed Forces and intelligence services. The agency is headed by the two managing directors Dr. Christian Hummert and Daniel Mayer.
Cyberspace is generally defined as the infrastructure that connects digital communication channels and information flows worldwide. The Internet is central to this. This global data stream blurs the traditional boundaries between outside and inside. In view of the great importance of cyberspace for the everyday life of every individual, cyber security is not only of central importance, but also has many facets. It is about cybercrime, in which the internet is used as a means of crime or crimes are committed virtually, as well as the protection of critical (communication) infrastructures on land, in the deep sea and in space. The key technologies themselves are also crucial. Only those who can properly examine existing and future hardware and software for possible backdoors and vulnerabilities can use them with confidence. Only those who are familiar with the developments
- in machine learning,
- with robotics,
- Brain-computer interfaces,
- Quantum technology or
- Encryption method
If you keep up with the latest developments and understand and comprehend the underlying mechanisms, you can use them with confidence.
In view of the already extensive and growing importance of cyberspace in the everyday life of every individual as well as in business, administration and society, our topics are also wide-ranging. In principle, we are particularly interested in the following topics
- trustworthy and resilient information technology,
- Human-technology interaction and
- Artificial intelligence.
Specifically, we are currently dealing with issues relating to
- Nano and quantum technology,
- Space and maritime security,
- Bionics and brain-computer interfaces,
- predictive analytics and autonomous systems and
- Cryptography.
No, although the Cyberagentur team has a clear focus on research and innovation, it does not conduct research itself. Once we have identified key technologies and high innovation potential for cyber security – in consultation with experts from government authorities and institutions – we develop programs and projects. On this basis, we commission teams of researchers from science and industry to search for solutions – and accompany the research process throughout its entire duration. Our main interest is in venturesome projects which, if successful, have a major impact. The knowledge gained is made available to the Federal Republic of Germany.
The Cyberagentur team also requires the knowledge of IT experts, but not only. A new era must be heralded in the area of research and development: Knowledge, skills and information are now much more decentralized and widely dispersed. We want to bring together different research focuses and scientific disciplines. We are therefore looking for colleagues with different perspectives, for example with experience from the security sector or future and scenario analysis; from philosophy, law, social, societal and economic sciences, from peace and conflict research or engineering and information technology. We are convinced that an interdisciplinary perspective is the key to successful leap innovations. We want to bring together different research focuses and scientific disciplines – a network of expertise for the security of the data network.
The establishment of an “Agentur für Innovation in der Cybersicherheit” (Cyberagentur) was enshrined in the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD coalition partners in March 2018 – and was adopted by the Federal Cabinet in the summer of the same year. In the summer of 2018, Federal Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer (CSU) commented on the Cyberagentur idea, saying that the German government should not stand by while the use of sensitive information technology with high security relevance in Germany is controlled by third countries. “With the establishment of the Cyberagentur, Germany should take the lead, or at least a leading position, in international cyber security.” The then Federal Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) added that the state must assume a protective function in the digital world – and take responsibility for it. With this mandate, the Cyberagentur was founded by the German government in the summer of 2020 in the private sector legal form of a limited liability company (GmbH) and has been established since then. The Federal Republic of Germany is the sole shareholder. It is jointly represented by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community and the Federal Ministry of Defense.
The Cyberagentur does not award any grants, but invites tenders for specific research contracts. In doing so, it uses various public procurement instruments. The Cyberagentur initially has 240 million euros at its disposal until 2023, the majority of which will flow into research projects.
The Cyberagentur is part of the federal government’s so-called Heimatstrategie, which aims to achieve equal living conditions throughout Germany. In the 2017-2021 legislative period, the federal government decided to implement a bundle of measures to initiate “a new phase of policy for equalizing opportunities between the regions“. A central component of this strategy is to create new jobs in a targeted manner through new and spin-off companies from federal authorities and research institutions. In the summer of 2021, the Federal Government’s annual report on the status of German unity listed a good two dozen such establishments, including that of the Cyberagentur (see table, page 27). Even before it was founded, the federal government had agreed with the states of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt that the Cyberagentur would be based at Leipzig/Halle Airport in the long term. The Federal Ministry of Defense, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Home Affairs and the state chancelleries of Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony have agreed on the permanent location of the Agentur für Innovation in der Cybersicherheit GmbH (Cyberagentur). They are committed to the permanent location of the Cyberagentur in Halle (Saale). The Cyberagentur moved into its new offices in Große Steinstraße in November 2022.
FAQ on careers
You apply exclusively via our website and will also receive a confirmation of receipt directly. Depending on the number of applicants and the application period, we will get back to you no later than 1-2 weeks after the end of the application period. As a rule, our selection process is a two-stage process, starting with an initial virtual interview via Teams. If everything suits both sides, we will invite you to a personal interview at the Cyberagentur. The interviews are usually attended by the respective heads of department and/or unit, a member of the HR department and a member of the works council.
Please send an e-mail to bewerbung[at]cyberagentur.de
Structured onboarding starts in the first few days, initially with organizational and then technical topics. The first six weeks are intended to be spent in person, also in order to gradually get to know all colleagues personally, so that mobile working is not desired here.
Interested in working at the Cyberagentur
?
Take a look at our current vacancies.