The aim of ViSP is to break down the silos and boost the existing research synergies among the partner institutions, to establish a graduate educational program in cybersecurity and privacy, and to create all together an internationally leading research and educational brand for cybersecurity and privacy in Vienna.

While the primary goals are research excellence and education, ViSP will have a significant impact on industry and regional development. Cybersecurity and privacy expertise is extremely required by enterprises, which open branches and labs in close proximity to research centers and universities leading in this field, due to the availability of the required know-how, possibilities of technology transfer, and access to specialized students. Cybersecurity and privacy are also a flourishing field worldwide for startups created by students during or at the end of their studies, which will be promoted and mentored in the incubation phase by ViSP.

The ultimate goal is to establish Vienna as the place to be for cybersecurity and privacy research in Europe. Besides the central location and the excellent quality of life, the unique selling point of the Viennese landscape in the cybersecurity and privacy domain is the unmatchable concentration of research excellence (as witnessed, e.g., by the 6 ERC grants in this field, all joining ViSP, which has no equal in Europe) and the number of universities and research centers active in this field, which however requires a consolidation effort to emerge internationally as a leading location.