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Italy Launches Initiative to Train Next Generation of ‘Good Hackers’
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Bolzano, Italy – A national program aimed at bolstering italy’s cybersecurity defenses is now accepting applications from tech-savvy young adults aged 16 to 24. The initiative, known as CyberChallenge.IT 2026,seeks to identify and train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals,often referred to as “good hackers,” who will defend against increasingly refined cyber threats.
The Growing Need for Cyber Defenders
In an increasingly interconnected world, the digital realm has become a critical arena for conflict and competition. Protecting computers, networks, data, and digital services from attacks and unauthorized access is paramount. As one analyst explained, “The demand for cybersecurity professionals is skyrocketing, as virtually every company today manages sensitive data.” This growing need is the driving force behind programs like CyberChallenge.IT.
Free University of Bozen-Bolzano Leads the Charge
The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (unibz) is playing a key role in this national effort,once again participating with a team in the CyberChallenge.IT 2026 program. The university has been actively involved for years, conducting participant selection and training, and promoting computer science education with a focus on cybersecurity within local schools.
The italy-wide training program is organized by the Cybersecurity National Lab of the CINI (Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per l’Informatica) and supported by the National Agency for Cybersecurity.
Program Details and Selection Process
Interested individuals can register online until January 25, 2026. The selection process begins in Bolzano on January 28th with a pre-test evaluating logic, mathematics, algorithms, and essential computer science concepts. The top 60 candidates will then advance to a practical selection exam involving the completion of four programming tasks.
The 20 highest-performing participants will form the unibz team and embark on a rigorous 72-hour training course spanning twelve weeks, held on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings from February to May 2026. The curriculum covers a broad range of cybersecurity topics, including:
- Ethics
- Cryptography
- Web security
- Software and hardware security
- Network security
- Malware analysis
- Attack and defense strategies
Competition and Potential for National Team Selection
Following the training phase, a local competition will be held on May 27th. The six top performers from unibz will then represent the university at the national competition in July 2026, hosted at the ITCILO (Centro Internazionale di Formazione dell’ILO) in Turin. Exceptional candidates may even qualify for teamitaly,the nation’s cyberdefender team that competes on the international stage.
According to Fabrizio Maria Maggi, Professor of Information Security at the Faculty of Engineering and coordinator of the CyberChallenge.IT project at unibz,the program’s goal is to cultivate professionals who can proactively identify and address vulnerabilities. “We want to train participants to become ‘good hackers’ – those hired by companies to analyze their systems, uncover weaknesses, and collaborate on improvements to prevent malicious attacks.”
