OSCE Chairpersonship Conference on Cyber/ICT Security, Resilient Cyberspace: Principles, Partnerships, and the Path Ahead

The annual Chairpersonship Conference on Cyber/ICT Security, Resilient Cyberspace: Principles, Partnerships, and the Path Ahead will take place in Helsinki 30 September - 2 October 2025.

Accelerating digitalization, development of new technologies and continually growing interdependencies are altering the global operating environment. Threats have become increasingly diverse and cyber is becoming the key domain and means for hybrid influencing activities, crime, terrorism and warfare.

While states bear primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, numerous other stakeholders such as the private sector, civil society and academia are critical for promoting stability and advancing responsible behaviour in cyberspace.

The OSCE has a clear and important role in cyber security. The Organization’s sixteen voluntary Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) have the potential to reduce tensions and enhance security in cyberspace. These measures have inspired the wider global community to adopt similar ones. This shows how the OSCE can be innovative, adapt to changing circumstances and test new ideas. Finland advocates for an open, free, secure and stable cyber domain where the rule of law, responsible state behaviour, democracy and human rights are respected. There is a clear need to advance the concrete implementation of international rules, norms and principles as well as responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.

The Annual Chairpersonship Conferences on Cyber/ICT Security are an excellent means of exploring cyber security in the OSCE region. The conference in Helsinki will be an opportunity to continue the discussions of the previous Chairpersonship Conference on “Strengthening National Cyber Resilience”, organized in Malta, as well as the meetings of the Informal Working Group established by PC Decision 1039 and related side events.

Sessions

The first session of this year’s conference offers an insightful keynote address setting the stage for the discussions ahead.

Related to the Finnish Chairpersonship priority of respecting the commonly agreed principles and enhancing multilateral co-operation, the second session explores responsible state behaviour in cyberspace. As the OSCE cyber/ICT security CBMs are widely seen as state-of-the-art, the session will also look at what can be learned from their implementation as a way to advance responsible state behaviour.

The third session builds on the side event, “Public-Private Partnerships and the Whole-of-Society Approach to Cyber Security”, organized by Finland on 10 March, and highlights the role of public-private partnerships in responding to cyber security threats and enhancing cyber resilience.

The final session prepares for the future. It explores how to respond to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and disruptive technologies, but also their potential to have a positive impact on peace and security, and what kind of policies and actions are needed to seize that potential.

Participants

The conference will bring together high-level officials from the OSCE, the participating States and Partners for Co-operation, as well as representatives of civil society, academia and the private sector, and other international organisations. If you wish to participate in the conference, you are requested to fill out this form by COB on Monday 15 September 2025.

Agenda

A meeting of the Informal Working Group established by PC Decision 1039 and an informal gathering on Uunisaari island will precede the conference on Tuesday, 30 September. The conference will open on Wednesday, 1 October at 09.00 and run until 17.30, followed by a reception. On Thursday, 2 October, a series of side events and excursions will be offered, showcasing different aspects of public-private partnerships at cyber/ICT related organisations - such as the Technical University, a private company and internal security authorities.

Further information and registration links for the side events and excursions will be shared in September.