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Bibi van den Berg about the Dutch brain drain in Cyber security

Bibi van den Berg, Professor of Cyber Security Governance at the Institute of Security and Global Affairs (ISGA), has been interviewed by Financieel Dagblad (FD) and BNR Nieuwsradio about the considerable shortage of cyber security specialists in the Netherlands. Van den Berg warns of a brain drain, because a large part leaves the Netherlands after their study.

In the EU it has been agreed that countries will spend 3% of the national income on research in 2020. For years, the Netherlands has not even achieved the 2% . "We are starting to feel the consequences of the government investing too little in research", says van den Berg. Because the Netherlands invest less in cyber security than other countries, Dutch specialists leave to other countries. Van den Berg: "In turn, the Dutch goes to the US, where as an experienced cyber security specialist they earn three tons in dollars, against an average of one ton in euros in the Netherlands".

Shortage of teachers

Van den Berg signals another consequence of the brain drain and the market that does not seem to be satisfied. "As a consequence a few graduates and PhD students stay active in education. While we push more and more students through these courses. I did hardly do any research in the past year, I am constantly teaching. I like that, but there's a limit to it".

Cybersecurity into practice

Van den Berg has launched two new training courses in Leiden in recent years. It mainly concerns the administrative questions about cyber security.  If companies and organisations want to do something about cyber security, they must also ensure that the corporate culture changes. "The board must also understand cyber security, otherwise there will be no money. This means companies and organisations need employees who understand the technical language, but also the language of the business".

Read here the full article (Dutch only).

Listen here the BNR news radio item (Dutch only).

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