A consortium is established in Bologna to tackle cybersecurity challenges in European transport
In a global context where cybersecurity threats are steadily rising, protecting critical transport infrastructure has become a priority to ensure the continuity of European supply chains. To address these challenges, a community of partners gathered in Bologna, launching the consortium for the TRANSCEND project. This project aims to strengthen the resilience of strategic infrastructure in the logistics sector and improve response capabilities against cyberattacks and operational disruptions.
Critical infrastructure encompasses fundamental elements for the operation of transport networks, such as interchange terminals, logistics centers, and storage facilities. A prime example is Interporto di Bologna, a strategically important logistics hub for European freight transport, which also hosts the GRUBER Logistics warehouse among other facilities. This hub, essential for managing transport flows to and from various European destinations, is one of the project’s key focal points for deploying advanced monitoring and protection solutions.
TRANSCEND is an initiative funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe program. The objective is to enhance the resilience of transport infrastructure by adopting digital technologies to proactively address cyber threats and natural disasters. The project involves international partners and focuses on advanced solutions for monitoring and protecting transport networks, leveraging innovative process mining techniques and data analytics to detect suspicious activity and potential attacks.
During the official kick-off meeting, held on October 2 and 3, 2024, at the headquarters of the Emilia-Romagna Region and Interporto di Bologna, participants established the operational guidelines for the upcoming months, discussing each partner’s contribution and visiting key project facilities, including the GRUBER Logistics warehouse. Work is currently underway to define the processes to be mapped in order to extract recurring data structures that can be modeled and, consequently, protected.
GRUBER Logistics, a leading player in European logistics, plays a pivotal role in the TRANSCEND project, bringing its expertise in transport flow management and the integration of innovative solutions for security and operational efficiency. The South Tyrolean company is leading a pilot project in Bologna, aimed at testing and deploying new approaches for the intelligent management and protection of logistics infrastructure.
The kick-off meeting took place at a particularly meaningful time: October 2024 marks the 21st Cybersecurity Awareness Month, under the ongoing theme “Secure Our World”—a reminder for everyone to take simple steps to protect the digital world and prevent cyber threats. TRANSCEND represents a significant step forward for the future of European logistics, aiming to establish a more resilient, secure, and sustainable transport system. Through initiatives like this, the European Union confirms its dedication to innovation and international collaboration to reinforce the continent’s strategic infrastructure.