UNbreakable Romania 2026 launched a new format on cybersecurity in the age of AI
UNbreakable Romania, cybersecurity education program for high school and university students, opened registrations for 2026 edition. In the same time, it launches as a first a new format dedicated to cybersecurity in the age of AI.
The new program will see over 2,000 young people gain access to classic cybersecurity challenges, alongside a series of hands-on labs in which AI becomes an integral part of defense strategies and solutions. Developed as a pilot initiative within UNbreakable, this category marks the program as the first of its kind in Romania and one of the first in Europe aimed at high school and university students, directly addressing the real needs of the cybersecurity industry. For companies, UNbreakable Romania means direct access to future cybersecurity experts who can quickly adapt to business environments, possess proven practical skills, and who are particularly adept at leveraging AI for cybersecurity.
The global shortage of cybersecurity skills is becoming increasingly stark, and Romania is no exception. Nearly 60% of companies face critical or significant needs for practical cybersecurity skills, according to the international CyberSecurity Workforce 2025 conducted by ISC2. At the same time, artificial intelligence is reshaping the rules of cybersecurity – not by replacing people, but by augmenting their capabilities and transforming the way they work.
Now at the 9th edition, UNbreakable Romania serves as a bridge between cybersecurity education and the labor market.
”With the 2026 edition of UNbreakable Romania, we are taking an important step towards strengthening strategic and problem-solving skills adapted to today’s cybersecurity challenges. We will involve high school and university students across the country in scenarios that closely resemble real working environments, through practical labs and exclusively team-based competitions that encourage collaboration, communication and complementary skills. Furthermore, given the increasing use of artificial intelligence by attackers in the development of cyberattacks, we have decided to move one step ahead and test, within a structured framework, the use of AI as part of the analysis and problem-solving process. This approach positions UNbreakable Romania among the first educational programs in Romania and Europe to prepare students for the new reality of cybersecurity. In this way, UNbreakable Romania equips young people for the labour market and provides companies with access to professionals whose skills have been practically validated, who can natively integrate AI technologies into real projects and significantly reduce their onboarding time within organisations”, explains Andrei Avădănei, CEO of Bit Sentinel.
”A practical approach is often what is missing from most educational training frameworks in the technology sector today. I believe that integrating real working scenarios, team collaboration and the use of artificial intelligence in analysis and decision-making processes are essential steps in preparing young people for the future. UNbreakable Romania does not only develop technical skills, but also helps shape a critical, responsible mindset aligned with business realities, reducing the gap between education and real market needs. Our investment in such programs represents a direct investment in Romania’s digital resilience, both today and in the long term”, added Cristian Pațachia-Sultănoiu, Development & Innovation Manager, Orange Romania.
The 2026 edition calendar started on January 20th, with the official launch and opening of registrations. The program is delivered via the CyberEDU educational technical platform, developed by Bit Sentinel and supported by Orange, the organisers of UNbreakable Romania, where participants have access to dedicated theoretical and practical cybersecurity training resources.
Girls in Cyber Bootcamp: expanding the cybersecurity talent pool
UNbreakable Romania kicks off in 2026 with a bootcamp consisting of online activities – mentor-led webinars, theoretical and practical resources provided through CyberEDU – as well as local events designed to familiarise participants with the competition format. This phase will run from 10 February to 5 March, followed by the online team competition held between 6 and 8 March. Teams of up to three members will have 48 hours to solve challenges across various cybersecurity domains, with the top 16 teams qualifying for the final.
Taking place alongside the final will be Girls in Cyber, a bootcamp for girls aged 16-25, with 20 selected participants. The initiative aims to inspire more young women to explore cybersecurity by providing access to mentorship, career guidance and an environment in which they can build meaningful connections with other girls passionate about the field. At the same time, the Girls in Cyber Bootcamp contributes to expanding the talent pool and identifying future specialists who can grow within companies’ cybersecurity ecosystems.
The UNbreakable Romania final and the Girls in Cyber Bootcamp will take place in a physical format between 27 and 29 March, marking the highlight of the edition. Details about the full activity calendar, registration form and prizes are available on the competition’s official website.
Since its launch in 2020, UNbreakable Romania has grown steadily, becoming a national benchmark for the practical training of young people passionate about cybersecurity. Across the eight editions held to date, the program has attracted over 6,500 participants from more than 150 high schools and over 20 universities, with nationwide coverage. This expansion also translates into direct benefits for companies: through the UNbreakable Romania network, employers can identify local talent in cities where recruitment is traditionally challenging, supporting the development of internship programs or entry-level roles outside major university centres.
Team-based competitions reflecting real-world work environments
The 2026 edition further strengthens team-based competitions as the main practical training tool, relevant both to real working environments and to competitions such as the Romanian Cyber Security Challenge (RoCSC) and the European Cyber Security Challenge (ECSC). The new format mirrors how organisations actually operate, where outcomes depend on collaboration, communication and decision-making under pressure, rather than isolated individual performance.
This approach is also supported by external recognition of the program’s impact. The Gold Recognition in the Community Index 2025, awarded to UNbreakable Romania following the evaluation of 43 international indicators, confirms the educational value and sustainability of the initiative, as well as its role in narrowing the gap between company requirements and the preparedness of the future cybersecurity workforce.
Beyond external validation, the true value of UNbreakable Romania lies in its tangible impact on the business environment. For companies, the program is not merely an educational initiative, but a strategic opportunity to actively contribute to shaping the next generation of specialists and to start building a strong cybersecurity talent pipeline today.
UNbreakable Romania is a national program designed for high school and university students preparing for a career in cybersecurity or seeking to deepen their knowledge in the field. The pilot edition took place in 2020, and since then UNbreakable has become an annual program, with more than 6,500 young people from dozens of universities and hundreds of high schools across Romania taking part. Detailed results from the most recent edition are available here.