Within the framework of the European project SovereignEdge.COGNIT[1], the Belgian research center CETIC and SUSE are addressing key cybersecurity challenges at the core of smart and autonomous mobility systems.
Cybersecurity as a key enabler of smart mobility
Smart mobility is transforming the way people and goods move. From intelligent traffic systems to autonomous vehicles, digital technologies are making transportation cleaner, faster, and more efficient.
However, this increased connectivity introduces new risks: cyberattacks can disrupt traffic flows and, in the most severe cases, endanger human lives.
“Large volumes of personal and operational data must be protected. Edge computing, which involves processing data as close as possible to vehicles and roadside infrastructure, adds an additional layer of complexity to security. Ensuring trust in these systems is essential for their widespread adoption” emphasizes Nikolaos Matskanis, Senior Project Manager, and project lead at CETIC.
Artificial Intelligence in support of smart mobility
Within this project, CETIC and SUSE have successfully developed an artificial intelligence-driven anomaly detection function. This application enables the identification of threats, defined as deviations from normal system behavior, such as:
- unauthorized remote connection attempts,
- GPS spoofing attacks (false signals designed to mislead navigation systems).
When a threat is detected, the system directly delivers alerts or remediation actions directly to the vehicle. The SovereignEdge.COGNIT framework enables automatic adaptation of these security functions to the vehicle’s location and operational context, ensuring continuous protection even as vehicles move between edge nodes. The result is secured connected mobility services, even within highly distributed and continuously evolving environments.
“Autonomous vehicles are not only learning how to drive themselves; they are also learning how to defend themselves. This innovation represents a significant step toward safer and more resilient transportation systems in an increasingly connected world” – Nikolaos Matskanis.
SovereignEdge.COGNIT: a new paradigm for the mobility of tomorrow
At the heart of this innovation is SovereignEdge.COGNIT, an open-source platform integrating artificial intelligence and capable of executing applications without dedicated servers. It automatically optimizes the use of available resources, whether they are:
- hosted in a centralized cloud environment,
- or deployed on edge nodes located close to sensors, devices, and Internet-connected infrastructure.
“SovereignEdge.COGNIT is an advanced software solution designed to facilitate the deployment of modern applications across the edge-to-cloud continuum, with deep integration of artificial intelligence, all within a European open-source ecosystem” – Nikolaos Matskanis.
On-demand demonstrations
CETIC invites all stakeholders-including SMEs, large enterprises, and public institutions- to discover the platform through dedicated demonstrations, specifically targeting professionals involved in security solutions based on edge computing and artificial intelligence.
Image © CETIC
CETIC’s involvement in European-scale innovation projects
The COGNIT project, funded under the Horizon Europe programme, brings together a consortium of leading stakeholders:
OpenNebula Systems (Spain, coordinator), Umeå University (Sweden), Ikerlan (Spain), CETIC (Belgium), RISE Research Institutes of Sweden (Sweden), SUSE (Germany), ACISA (Spain), Phoenix Systems (Poland), Nature 4.0 (Italy), and Atende Industries (Poland).
CETIC plays a key role in the development and validation of cybersecurity solutions, thereby contributing to the strengthening of intelligent mobility at the European level.
Learn more about SovereignEdge.COGNIT: SovereignEdgeCOGNIT
Contact CETIC: Contact us
[1] SovereignEdge.COGNIT, a project coordinated by OpenNebula Systems and funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (2023 – 2025).
