The initiative was recognized for its sustained promotion of talent and innovation to strengthen cybersecurity within the Galician business ecosystem. Susana Rey, from R's Privacy Office, accompanied by María Llorente from R's Business Marketing, and the chair's directors, Ana Fernández Vilas (UVigo) and Carlos Dafonte (UdC), accepted the award during the first day of CIBER.gal 2026, the Galician Cybersecurity Encounter organized by Amtega.
Susana Rey expressed gratitude for the distinction, highlighting the public-private collaboration and joint work over the past eight years. The R Cybersecurity Chair, established in 2018, maintains its objectives of attracting ICT talent, fostering research, technological transfer, and dissemination, with a focus on innovation and practical application in the business world.
Key achievements include the participation of over 500 students in training and outreach activities, more than 20 technical and social outreach actions, over 15 academic awards granted, and 9 permanent contracts generated from curricular internships. Collaboration spaces have also been fostered with entities such as CITIC, atlanTTic, Gradiant, Microsoft, Finsa, Imatia, and Hijos de Rivera.
The chair allocates 70% of its economic endowment to scholarships and curricular/extracurricular internships at R for undergraduate and master's students, with the remaining 30% dedicated to visibility and institutional strengthening activities. It has solidified its position as a benchmark in Galicia by organizing pioneering events and participating in various initiatives and technical competitions.
