Early warning system for cybercrime: Cyber radar strengthens Germany’s digital sovereignty
The signing of the contract on November 25, 2025, marked the start of the “Cybercrime Early Warning Radar” project. The aim of the project is to develop an AI-supported early warning system that identifies technical, structural, and cultural patterns of cybercrime before new threats become a reality.
On November 25, 2025, the contract was signed between Agentur für Innovation in der Cybersicherheit GmbH (Cyberagentur) and project partner Ventel as part of the research program “Research on Future Cybercrime – Subprogram 1 Pattern Recognition and Analysis (zCK SP1)”. Commercial Director Bettina Bubnys, Head of the Secure Society Department Ariane Wolf, and Program Director Dr. Nicole Hartlapp signed on behalf of Cyberagentur. CEO and Project Manager Dr. C. Jordan Howell signed the document on behalf of Ventel.
The Cybercrime Early Warning Radar project marks a step that decides toward a forward-looking cybersecurity 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 comparison countries, the project aims to predict attack vectors, enabling investigative and security authorities to derive and develop options for action at an early stage. The project draws on findings from criminology, sociology, data science, and IT security research and integrates insights 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 lead, emphasized: “The uniqueness of the program lies in its consideration of cultural and structural conditions in a country comparison, which complements technical factors. The Cybercrime Early Warning Radar project has taken up this approach in an excellent manner, and I am excited to see its implementation.”
By funding this research program, 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 cybersecurity architecture of society, the economy, and the state.
In the long term, the Cyber Radar will help secure Germany’s digital sovereignty and deepen international cooperation in the field of cyber defense. “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 director. The Cyber Radar not only provides new scientific insights into the behavior of cybercriminals, but also creates a tool for authorities—an intelligent radar designed to detect future waves of attacks before they occur.
The contract signing ceremony took place in a hybrid format for the first time. While Bettina Bubnys, Ariane Wolf, and Dr. Nicole Hartlapp signed the documents in Halle (Saale), Dr. C. Jordan Howell joined live from the US.
Further information:https://www.Cyberagentur.de/en/programme/zck