As CYCLOPES approaches its conclusion, the Malta event brings together practitioners, researchers and innovation partners from across Europe to reflect on what has been built and what should continue beyond the project.
As CYCLOPES moves into its final stage, the Community Event in Malta on 21–22 April 2026 marks one of the most meaningful moments in the life of the project. Co-organised by CYCLOPES and EACTDA, with contributions from ECTEG and the support of Europol, the event serves as the project’s final conference. It is not a typical closing meeting, but a gathering of the people, organisations and ideas that have shaped CYCLOPES over the past five years, and a chance to show how much can be achieved when Europe’s cybercrime community works together.
Coordinated by the Polish Platform for Homeland Security (PPHS), CYCLOPES is an EU-funded project focused on supporting law enforcement agencies in the fight against cybercrime. Its role in the European LEA landscape has been to connect operational needs with research, innovation, training and standardisation, while building a trusted network around some of the most complex and fast-moving challenges facing investigators today.
That is what makes the Malta event especially important. It brings together representatives of law enforcement, research, training and technology communities for a shared discussion on issues that are already shaping the future of cybercrime investigations, including digital and mobile forensics, automotive forensics, OSINT, cryptoassets, AI and emerging investigative tools. But the value of the event lies not only in the topics on the agenda. It lies just as much in the opportunity to exchange experience, compare perspectives and strengthen relationships across borders and disciplines.
For PPHS, the project has also been an important learning experience and a chance to help build a strong European network around shared challenges. As Rashel Talukder, Managing Director of PPHS, notes:
Rashel Talukder Managing Director PPHS
Coordinating CYCLOPES has been a demanding but extremely valuable journey for PPHS. Over five years, we have seen how important it is to create space for genuine cooperation between law enforcement, researchers, trainers and technology experts. This project has taught us a great deal, not only about the changing nature of cybercrime, but also about the importance of trust, continuity and listening to practitioners’ real needs. It has influenced our work profoundly, and the Malta event reflects that clearly: it marks the closing of an important chapter, while also showing that the network built through CYCLOPES can continue to grow and deliver value beyond the project itself.
This networking dimension has always been at the heart of CYCLOPES. Over the course of the project, the consortium and its wider community have worked to identify capability gaps, share knowledge and create stronger links between practitioners and those developing solutions for them. In Malta, that work comes into focus in a particularly visible way: as a living European network built on trust, expertise and practical cooperation.
For PPHS, as project coordinator, this is also a moment of reflection. Coordinating a project as long, ambitious and multi-layered as CYCLOPES has been both a challenge and an important learning experience. It has deepened our understanding of the needs of the law enforcement community, strengthened our international partnerships, and influenced the way we think about innovation, cooperation and impact.
As the project nears its formal end, the Malta event is not only a reflection on what has been achieved. It is also a reminder that the relationships, insights and shared commitment developed through CYCLOPES can continue to support European cooperation against cybercrime well into the future. Those who would like to learn more about the project, its activities and key results can visit the CYCLOPES website. In the near future, PPHS will also share a broader summary of the project and its outcomes, as well a sustainability plan for the Network, so we encourage readers to subscribe to our newsletter and follow our upcoming updates.
