The cybersecurity team of GRNET secured 1st place in the Capture The Flag (CTF) competition held during GÉANT Security Days 2026 on 8 April 2026 in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Represented by Dimitris Kolotouros and Marios Levogiannis, the GRNET team competed against participants from National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) and the wider research community, successfully addressing a series of advanced, real-world cybersecurity challenges.

The competition assessed skills in areas such as OSINT, web security, AI security, forensics and log analysis, cryptography and steganography, and GRC, highlighting GRNET’s expertise and its contribution to strengthening secure and resilient digital infrastructures for the research and education community. 

Organised by GÉANT, Security Days 2026 (7-9 April), held under the theme “Securing Tomorrow Together”, brought together security professionals, network experts, and policy makers from across Europe to explore key challenges and opportunities in cybersecurity, including cloud security, cyber resilience, community engagement, and the human factor. Through training sessions, keynote speeches, and collaborative discussions, the conference provided a platform for exchanging knowledge and best practices, reinforcing cooperation across the European NREN community.

GRNET’s distinction in the CTF competition reflects its active contribution to the international cybersecurity ecosystem and its commitment to supporting secure and resilient digital infrastructures for research and education.