Cyberagentur and Ventel launch joint research project on future cybercrime
The signing of the contract on November 25, 2025 marked the start of the “Cybercrime Early Warning Radar” project. The project aims to develop an AI-supported early warning system that identifies technical, structural and cultural patterns of cybercrime before new threats become a reality.
On 25 November 2025, the contract signing ceremony was held between the Agentur für Innovation in der Cybersicherheit GmbH (Cyberagentur) and the project partner Ventel as part of the research program “Research on Future Cybercrime – Subprogram 1 Pattern Recognition and Analysis (zCK TP1)”. Commercial Director Bettina Bubnys, Head of the Secure Society Department Ariane Wolf and Program Manager Dr. Nicole Hartlapp signed on behalf of the Cyberagentur. CEO and project manager Dr. C. Jordan Howell signed the certificate on behalf of Ventel.
The Cybercrime Early Warning Radar project marks a decisive step towards a forward-looking cyber security strategy for Germany. It combines artificial intelligence with social science methods to identify patterns in global cybercrime. By analyzing technical, structural and cultural conditions in Germany and selected comparative countries, attack trends are to be predicted, allowing options for action for investigative and security authorities to be derived and developed at an early stage. The project is based on findings from criminology, sociology, data science and IT security research and integrates findings from law enforcement agencies, IT security experts and international partner institutions. The aim is to create an interactive dashboard that makes cyber threats visible to law enforcement, security and government institutions at an early stage.
Dr. Nicole Hartlapp, head of the Cyberresilient Society research field at the Cyberagentur and program manager, emphasized: “The special feature of the program lies in the consideration of cultural and structural conditions in a country comparison, which complement technical factors. The Cybercrime Early Warning Radar project has taken up this approach excellently and I am looking forward to its implementation.”
By funding this research program, the Cyberagentur is pursuing the aim of strengthening Germany’s technological and social resilience. The project provides a scientifically sound basis for preventive measures and strategic decisions in the cyber security architecture of society, the economy and the state.
In the long term, the research will help to secure Germany’s digital sovereignty and deepen international cooperation in the field of cyber defense. “The collaboration with the Cyberagentur offers a unique opportunity to use empirical research and methodological innovation to develop an evidence-based system for the early detection and prevention of cyber threats. It is a privilege to be able to contribute to this important national initiative. (Collaborating with Cyberagentur presents an invaluable opportunity to apply empirical research and methodological innovation to the development of an evidence-based system for the early detection and prevention of cyber threats. It is a privilege to contribute to this important national initiative),” emphasizes Dr. C. Jordan Howell, CEO of Ventel LLC and project leader. The research project not only provides new scientific insights into the behavior of cyber criminals, but also creates a tool for authorities – an intelligent radar to detect future waves of attacks before they occur.
The signing ceremony took place in hybrid form for the first time. While Bettina Bubnys, Ariane Wolf and Dr. Nicole Hartlapp signed the documents in Halle (Saale), Dr. C. Jordan Howell joined them live from the USA.
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