Events

When fourteen police investigators recently graduated from WB3C's Digital Forensics programme delivered in partnership with the University of Technology of Troyes (UTT), the public saw the final result: internationally recognised diplomas, successful thesis defences and a new generation of specialised cybercrime investigators.

Less visible was the work that took place behind the scenes to get there.

For fifteen months, participants balanced full-time operational duties with a university-level programme requiring approximately 1,400 hours of study. While continuing to investigate cybercrime cases and fulfil their professional responsibilities, they attended classes, completed practical assignments, conducted research and prepared professional theses.

As the programme entered its final stage, WB3C and UTT intensified their support to help participants navigate one of the most demanding parts of the academic journey: the preparation and defence of their final papers.

Participants received detailed guidance on thesis writing, academic standards and defence procedures applied by UTT. Following the submission of their papers, mentors conducted individual reviews and provided detailed feedback, recommendations and improvement points. Students then worked through revisions and refinements before receiving final confirmation that their work met the required academic standards.

Throughout this process, mentors remained available for consultations, questions and individual support, ensuring that participants could successfully bridge the gap between operational expertise and academic requirements.

The final result was more than a successful examination. It demonstrated the determination of investigators who committed to a demanding programme while remaining on active duty, and the value of sustained mentorship and international cooperation in building specialised cybercrime capabilities.

The graduation of all fourteen participants stands as a testament not only to their professional competence, but also to the perseverance required to complete a rigorous university programme alongside the realities of modern law enforcement work.

This week, at Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) we are running a three-day training on ISO/IEC 27001:2022, delivered in cooperation with our partner Čikom and led by its CISO and SOC Manager Mladen Bukilic.

As countries across the region advance their alignment with European cybersecurity requirements, organisations responsible for public services and critical functions face growing expectations to manage risks in a systematic and measurable way.
The training introduces participants to the principles of Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), covering topics such as risk assessment, security governance, incident management, internal audits and continual improvement. Through practical exercises and case studies, participants develop the tools needed to translate security requirements into organisational practice.
More than a compliance exercise, ISO 27001 provides a framework for protecting information assets, strengthening organisational resilience and building trust in an increasingly interconnected environment.
The activity is delivered within the regional project "Improving the Resilience of Critical Entities and the Protection of Public Spaces and Cyberspace against Security Threats in the Western Balkans", funded by the European Union.

At 21, Tom Husson has already learned something that many professionals discover much later: education does not stop at the classroom door.

Tom is a fourth-year Artificial Intelligence student at ISEN Lille, one of France's leading engineering schools. As part of his degree, he is spending a full year outside the traditional academic environment — combining a six-month industry internship with an international experience designed to expose students to different cultures, challenges and ways of working.

Before arriving in Montenegro, Tom spent two months in South Africa, living with a local family and helping with daily chores in exchange for accommodation and meals. In May, his journey brought him to Podgorica.

This opportunity was enabled by the whole ecosystem of players. It was prompted by WB3C's programme director Gilles Schwoerer, and Tom indeed feels at home at WB3C where he spends a lot of time working. Further, Naučno-tehnološki park Crne Gore / Science Technology Park of Montenegro kindly agreed to sign an internship contract, but it is thanks to Ivan Boskovic, ITAS CEO, that Tom has been granted this valuable 3-month experience along with the ongoing mentorship that Ivan provides as a seasoned tech professional working with AI driven technologies.

The project aims to transform the way hotels interact with guests by automating bookings, handling enquiries, solving everyday issues and supporting hotel operations in real time. Information generated by the system is fed directly to hotel managers, enabling faster decision-making and improved customer service.

Beyond improving existing functionalities, Tom is also exploring one of the most important questions facing AI today: how to protect intelligent systems from malicious inputs and external manipulation. His research touches on the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity — a field that is becoming increasingly important as AI systems gain greater autonomy.

For ITAS, the collaboration brings fresh ideas, research capacity and a direct link to the latest developments coming from one of Europe's strongest engineering ecosystems.

For Tom, it is something equally valuable: the opportunity to apply theory in practice, work alongside experienced professionals and build the skills that employers increasingly seek.

This opportunity emerged through an unexpected connection. Tom's father, an officer in the French Gendarmerie, visited Podgorica in 2024 during a regional cybersecurity conference and met representatives of WB3C. A conversation that started there eventually helped connect his son with an internship opportunity a year later.

With the support of Science and Technology Park Montenegro, WB3C and ITAS, Tom has become part of an ecosystem that brings together education, innovation and industry.

His story also highlights something larger.

Lille, where Tom studies, is home to one of Europe's most dynamic cybersecurity communities and hosts the annual Forum InCyber Europe, one of the continent's leading cybersecurity gatherings. WB3C has participated in the forum twice, bringing public and private sector representatives from across the Western Balkans to connect with industry leaders, explore innovation and build partnerships.

These experiences continue to inspire our own ambitions for the region.

Because talent grows fastest when education, industry and international cooperation work together.

And sometimes, that journey starts with a student willing to leave home and embrace the unknown.

The ITAS Perspective: Why Investing in Young Talent Matters

The pace of technological development has created an ever-widening gap between what young professionals learn through formal education and what is expected of them when they enter their first jobs. This is especially visible in fields such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, where tools, methods and business needs evolve faster than traditional curricula can adapt. That is why companies have an important role to play — as a bridge between academic knowledge and state-of-the-art practice.

This year, ITAS piloted a small but meaningful concept: bringing together students from economics and electrical engineering with an international student from France. The idea was to create a multidisciplinary and multicultural working environment, closer to what young people will encounter tomorrow in real professional life — where engineers, business thinkers, researchers and international teams work side by side.

The result exceeded our expectations.

By opening real projects to students, sharing current technological challenges and exposing them to the way modern teams actually work, we help them build the confidence, adaptability and practical understanding that junior professionals increasingly need. At the same time, our company gains fresh perspectives, curiosity and research energy, while educational institutions receive valuable feedback from the real economy — helping them keep pace with technologies that change faster than traditional systems can adapt.

Tom’s journey from Lille to Podgorica is an example of how growth often happens outside familiar environments. International experience teaches young people independence, adaptability and openness. Practical work teaches them responsibility, teamwork and problem-solving.

In a world where knowledge becomes outdated quickly, schools, universities and companies are jointly challenged to shape curricula, adapt learning modules and expose students to real projects much earlier.

Because talent develops fastest when it is trusted, challenged and connected to the real world.

IT Advanced Services — ITAS is a Montenegrin technology company focused on software development, digital transformation and the practical application of artificial intelligence. Based in Podgorica, ITAS develops solutions for different sectors, including healthcare, tourism, hospitality, finance, e-commerce and public services.

A growing part of the company’s work is dedicated to AI research and applied innovation. ITAS is developing projects in digital pathology and medical image analysis, AI-supported hospitality solutions, data-driven fraud and risk detection, process automation and intelligent business systems. The company combines software engineering, domain knowledge and research-oriented development to create practical solutions with real market and social value.

Following last week's cybercrime training for police officers in Banja Luka, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) continued its outreach programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina this week with a specialised training for prosecutors and judges in Sarajevo, 22-24 June 2026.

Delivered in cooperation with the Centre for Education of Judges and Prosecutors of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CEST FBiH), the programme brought together judicial practitioners to strengthen their understanding of cybercrime, digital evidence, open-source intelligence (OSINT), blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies. Through a combination of expert-led sessions and practical exercises, participants explored the legal, procedural and evidentiary challenges that increasingly accompany cybercrime cases.

The Sarajevo training builds on the police-focused programme delivered in Banja Luka the previous week and forms part of a broader capacity-building effort developed jointly with institutions across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following extensive consultations with both the Centre for Education of Judges and Prosecutors of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Ministry of Interior training structures in Republika Srpska, WB3C designed a tailored programme reflecting the specific needs and operational realities of the country's criminal justice system.

Cybercrime investigations require effective cooperation between investigators, prosecutors and judges. By supporting capacity development across the entire criminal justice chain, WB3C seeks to contribute to a more coordinated and effective response to cybercrime in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

What happens when a cyber incident in one organisation starts affecting everyone else?

This week at WB3C, professionals responsible for critical infrastructure from across the Western Balkans worked through that question during an intensive training on Critical Information Infrastructure Protection (CIIP). The programme focused not on theory, but on practical decision-making: identifying critical assets, mapping dependencies, assessing risks, developing mitigation measures and managing large-scale cyber crises through simulation exercises.
The training was delivered by experts from the Dutch National Cyber Security Centre (Nationaal Cyber Security Centrum (Nationaal Cyber Security Centrum (NCSC-NL), bringing operational experience from the frontline of protecting critical infrastructure and essential services. Participants worked through real-world scenarios, explored cross-sector dependencies and developed concrete action plans applicable to their own institutions and national contexts.
As digitalisation accelerates, the resilience of critical infrastructure is becoming a shared responsibility that extends far beyond the cybersecurity community. Strengthening cooperation between governments, operators of essential services, regulators and experts is no longer optional—it is a prerequisite for continuity and security.
The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) is proud to have hosted this activity in partnership with the Dutch National Cyber Security Centre.
This training was funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
 

This week in Banja Luka, 15-17 June 2026, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Srpska, our cybercrime trainers Yannick Casse and Cyril Corrias worked directly with police officers, delivering a tailored programme on cybercrime investigations, OSINT, digital evidence, blockchain and cryptocurrencies, developed in response to specific needs identified by the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The training combined theory, practical exercises and discussions on emerging challenges facing law enforcement in the digital environment.

For WB3C, this marks an important step in bringing capacity building closer to practitioners. While much of our work takes place at the regional level, we are increasingly supporting our beneficiaries where they operate every day — in their own institutions and countries.

The Banja Luka training is part of a broader outreach effort in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Next week, our team will continue in Sarajevo, where a dedicated programme for prosecutors and judges will be delivered in cooperation with the Justice Academy.

This engagement follows extensive consultations with institutions across Bosnia and Herzegovina, including both the Banja Luka and Sarajevo training academies. Together, we designed a programme that reflects their specific operational realities and training priorities.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's complex administrative structure creates unique challenges for cybersecurity governance and the fight against cybercrime. Strengthening cooperation, skills and institutional capacities across different levels of government is therefore particularly important. We were pleased to be able to respond to the needs identified by our partners and contribute to these efforts.

We also welcome Bosnia and Herzegovina's growing engagement in regional cooperation. The country's participation in the recent ministerial delegation to the Paris Cyber Summit demonstrated a clear interest in contributing constructively to regional cybersecurity dialogue and capacity building.

Supporting institutions where they are, responding to their specific needs, and connecting national efforts with regional cooperation remains at the heart of WB3C's mission.

Fourteen police investigators from five countries across the region obtained a university qualification in digital forensics and cybercrime investigations, while their institutions received specialised equipment worth €150,000.

Fourteen police investigators from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro and Serbia have successfully completed the first university-level Digital Forensics programme organised by the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) in partnership with the University of Technology of Troyes (UTT), one of France's leading public higher education institutions in technology, engineering and cybersecurity.

The graduation ceremony marked the completion of an intensive educational programme that ran from February 2025 to May 2026, combining academic instruction, practical training, independent research and thesis development. The programme represents the first university qualification of its kind organised by WB3C and one of the region's most significant initiatives aimed at strengthening law enforcement capacities to combat high-tech crime.

The French Training Model Brought to WB3C Classrooms

A unique feature of the programme is that it is based on the original N'Tech Investigator curriculum developed by the French Gendarmerie for the training of its own high-tech crime investigators.

The curriculum has been used for years within French police and gendarmerie structures and was transferred in its entirety to WB3C classrooms, enabling participants from the Western Balkans to follow the same course content, methodology and practical exercises as investigators in France.

The programme was delivered in cooperation with the University of Technology of Troyes (UTT), which oversees the academic component and is recognised as one of France's leading centres for education and research in digital forensics, cybercrime and technological solutions for law enforcement.  

1,400 Hours of Training and 60 ECTS Credits

Throughout the programme, participants completed approximately 1,400 hours of theoretical and practical instruction, corresponding to 60 ECTS credits, equivalent to one full academic year of study.

The curriculum covered:

•          Digital forensics and preservation of electronic evidence;
•          Cybercrime investigations and legal aspects of digital investigations;
•          OSINT and CyberPatrol methodologies;
•          Computer networks, programming and data analytics;
•          Information security;
•          Cybercrime psychology;
•          Investigative methodologies;
•          Analysis of electronic communications and digital traces.

Particular emphasis was placed on practical work involving real investigative scenarios and the use of specialised forensic tools routinely employed by cybercrime units.

Successful Defence of Final Theses

At the conclusion of the programme, all participants sat for a final examination and defended their professional theses before a panel composed of French professors and instructors involved in programme delivery.

All 14 participants successfully defended their theses and obtained the Professional Bachelor License qualification awarded by the University of Technology of Troyes, demonstrating the high level of expertise and commitment they maintained throughout the fifteen-month programme.

The qualification they earned is internationally recognised and certifies specialised knowledge in digital forensics and cybercrime investigations.

€150,000 Donation of Digital Forensics Equipment

To ensure that newly acquired knowledge can be immediately applied in operational work, WB3C donated specialised digital forensic equipment worth €150,000 to the high-tech crime units from which the graduates originate.

The donation includes:

•          Data extraction licences;
•          Write-blocker devices used to preserve the integrity of digital evidence;
•          High-performance computers for forensic analysis;
•          Equipment for the storage and analysis of digital evidence;
•          Additional specialised forensic tools and accessories.

This represents the first equipment donation made by WB3C since its establishment.

Bojan Miranović, on Behalf of the Police Administration of Montenegro: Knowledge, Equipment and Cooperation Are Key to Successfully Combating Cybercrime

The ceremony was attended by Bojan Miranović, Head of the Unit for Combatting High-Tech Crime at the Police Administration of Montenegro, whose officers were among the programme participants.

Addressing the graduates, Miranović emphasised that the programme represents a strategic investment in strengthening the capacities of law enforcement agencies across the region to detect, document and prosecute cybercrime.

He stressed that modern threats require highly specialised expertise, continuous professional development and access to advanced tools, noting that the combination of quality training and appropriate equipment enables law enforcement agencies to respond effectively to growing challenges in the digital domain.

He also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation fostered through the programme, underlining that cybercrime does not recognise national borders and that professional networks, mutual trust and direct communication among investigators are essential for successful international investigations.

French Expertise for a Safer Region

The programme was delivered by French professors, experts and practitioners, including Reza El Galai, UTT's leading expert in digital forensics and cybercrime investigations; Marc Terouanne, specialist investigator in new technologies and cybercrime; and Ljuban Petrović, a digital forensics and cybersecurity expert with international experience gained in Germany, including work with Siemens.

By combining the academic excellence of the University of Technology of Troyes with the operational experience of the French Gendarmerie, the programme provided participants with access to the latest methodologies, techniques and tools used by some of Europe's most advanced cybercrime investigation systems.

WB3C Supporting the Region's Cyber Resilience

For WB3C and its partners, the programme demonstrates that long-term investment in education, equipment and international cooperation creates sustainable capacities that contribute to a safer digital environment and a stronger institutional response to cyber threats.

The programme is of particular importance to the Western Balkans in the context of the region's European integration aspirations, as it contributes to strengthening law enforcement capacities and raising cyber resilience levels necessary for alignment with European security standards, combating cybercrime, and fulfilling obligations under Chapter 24, while supporting the region's integration into the broader European security and cyber ecosystem.

Key Facts

•          Programme: Digital Forensics for Police Investigators
•          Organisers: WB3C and the University of Technology of Troyes (UTT), France
•          Duration: February 2025 – May 2026
•          Training Volume: Approximately 1,400 hours
•          Academic Value: 60 ECTS credits
•          Number of Graduates: 14
•          Participating Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro and Serbia
•          Value of Equipment Donation: €150,000

•          Significance: The first university-level Digital Forensics programme organised by WB3C and the first equipment donation made by the Centre.

   

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.

Amid an intensive period of Franco-Montenegrin exchanges, the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation of the French Assemblée nationale during their official visit to Montenegro.
The delegation was led by Mr Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade, Member of Parliament and Chair of the European Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly, and included Ms Manon Bouquin, MP and Vice-Chair of the Committee; Mr Laurent Mazaury, MP and Vice-Chair of the Committee; Mr Pascal LECAMP, MP; Mr Charles Sitzenstuhl, MP; Mr Romain L., adviser to Mr Anglade; and Mr Christophe Lescot, Head of the Secretariat of the European Affairs Committee. The delegation was accompanied by H.E. Anne-Marie Maskay, Ambassador of France to Montenegro, and Mr Théo Basely, Political Attaché.
On behalf of WB3C, Mr Naim M. GJOKAJ and Mr Gilles Schwoerer welcomed the delegation, presented the Centre’s mission and work, and guided them through WB3C’s facilities.
Mr Schwoerer recalled the recent Western Balkans ministerial visit to Paris, which included participation in the Paris Cyber Summit, a high-level round table at the French Senate , and a visit to Campus Cyber. This initiative helped place the Western Balkans more firmly within the broader European and global discussion on persistent cyber and hybrid threats, particularly at a critical moment for the region, marked by upcoming electoral cycles and Montenegro’s final phase of EU accession negotiations.
Mr Gjokaj presented the context in which WB3C was established, its regional mandate, and its strategic objectives for strengthening cyber resilience across the Western Balkans. Mr Schwoerer provided further insight into WB3C’s programme delivery model and its cooperation with beneficiaries, donors, and partners on the ground.
The visit reaffirmed the importance of the Franco-Montenegrin partnership and of parliamentary dialogue in advancing the region’s cyber resilience, European integration, and readiness to respond collectively to evolving digital and hybrid threats.

The Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C), in partnership with the Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT), is currently delivering its second university-level programme, this time for advanced ICT students from across the Western Balkans, following the successful completion and graduation of the first generation of Digital Forensics specialists earlier this month.

Launched in February 2026, the Cybersecurity University Diploma Course is structured as a year-long programme, combining intensive classroom sessions with independent work, supervised projects and professional placements later on. It is designed to contribute to the long-term development of a skilled cybersecurity workforce across the region.

We have just concluded a two-week intensive session which focused on audit and penetration testing, covering established methodologies, reconnaissance techniques, the use of specialised tools, and structured reporting. The approach combines theoretical grounding with hands-on laboratories, case studies and simulation exercises, in line with the programme’s emphasis on practical competencies .
Beyond the immediate training, the programme is structured to align skills development with operational needs — preparing participants for roles across cybersecurity operations, incident response, auditing and related fields.

The group will continue with two further intensive blocks in September and November, after which participants will move into individual project work and final examinations. Upon successful completion, they will obtain an internationally recognised diploma, opening pathways into some of the most in-demand entry-level roles in cybersecurity.

By building on the Digital Forensics programme and expanding into broader cybersecurity domains, WB3C is progressively establishing a coherent academic track that supports sustainable workforce development and regional resilience.