Strengthening the cybersecurity capabilities of African startups operating in the field of artificial intelligence and supporting their growth in a secure and sustainable way. This is the objective of Cyber4Africa, an initiative launched by Cyber 4.0 in collaboration with the AI Hub for Sustainable Development [insert link], the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), Unioncamere and Cisco.
The program promotes the adoption of security-by-design principles in the development of artificial intelligence solutions and aims to enhance startups’ ability to manage cyber risks during their growth phase, particularly in sectors that are strategic for the continent’s economic and social development.
The participating startups come from the countries involved in the Mattei Plan, including Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Ghana, and operate in key sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, energy, and digital infrastructure. In these areas, cybersecurity is a critical enabler of innovation and plays a fundamental role in strengthening the confidence of both investors and users.
The initiative is part of the broader cooperation framework established with the AI Hub for Sustainable Development and contributes to promoting digital development models based on capacity building, international collaboration, and the sustainable growth of local innovation ecosystems.
Unioncamere, Dintec and Cyber 4.0 are part of the process and support the technical part of the assessment with their expertises
Participation in the initiative requires the completion of a two-step assessment process:
Preliminary Assessment – an initial questionnaire designed to collect basic information and provide a first overview of your organization's digital and cybersecurity readiness.
Core Assessment (PID Cyber Check) – a more in-depth evaluation aimed at identifying strengths, vulnerabilities, and areas for improvement in your cybersecurity practices.
At the end of the Preliminary Assessment, you will find the link to access the Core Assessment (PID Cyber Check). To complete your participation in the initiative, both assessments must be completed.
Once the Core Assessment has been successfully completed, a personalized report summarizing the results and recommendations will be automatically sent to the email address provided during the assessment process.
