UNICC and Luxembourg Establish Partnership to Strengthen UN Cybersecurity and Digital Infrastructure - UNICC (2024)

GENEVA – 29 July 2024

The United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg developed and signed a strategic partnership framework to enhance the United Nations System capacities in cybersecurity, supercomputing and data storage and processing through the work of UNICC and its Cybersecurity Fund. This first-ever and groundbreaking collaboration will also work toward the establishment of a UNICC presence in Luxembourg and the opening of a UNICC Data Centre, leveraging Luxembourg’s expertise, technical capacities and green and secure facilities.

The UNICC-Luxembourg Strategic Partnership Framework defines the overlapping priorities of both partners in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and leverages their respective capacities and expertise, providing a predictable and structured collaboration in a term of 5 years. UNICC’s expansive experience as the largest strategic partner for digital solutions and cybersecurity within the UN System will enable Luxembourg to work with a strong and highly knowledgeable partner and to share its technical knowledge and capacity with UN entities and countries where UNICC’s partners operate.

I am honoured to sign our first strategic partnership with the United Nations International Computing Centre. This important step underlines Luxembourg’s unwavering commitment to advancing sustainable and inclusive digital solutions for global development. I am particularly proud that Luxembourg is the inaugural donor to the UNICC Cybersecurity Fund. In order to achieve a secure and reliable digital transition, it is essential to strengthen cybersecurity at all levels of the UN system, including in the field and in the least developed countries.

Xavier Bettel, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Luxembourg becomes the first donor to the UNICC Cybersecurity Fund

As part of the partnership, Luxembourg has pledged an earmarked contribution of 2.500.000 EUR to the UNICC Cybersecurity Fund, which will be distributed over five years (2024-2028), becoming the first donor and providing crucial initial support to this innovative funding instrument. In April 2024, UNICC launched this dedicated fund to bolster cyber-resilience across the UN family, allowing UNICC to design, develop and deploy core cybersecurity solutions. This will benefit multiple UN agencies and other international organizations, avoiding duplication and streamlining resources.

By supporting the Fund, the Government of Luxembourg will play a key role in safeguarding critical UN digital assets against the backdrop of ever-escalating cyber threats, in particular those targeting UN entities based in the Global South. The Fund will also be enriched by Luxembourg’s distinctive digital diplomacy efforts and expertise in ICT, ultimately contributing to a safer and more resilient digital future for the multilateral system.

Access to supercomputing capacities

Luxembourg and UNICC will cooperate to provide access to Luxembourg’s supercomputing capacities to the UN family and other international organizations through UNICC services, facilitating advanced data processing and analysis capabilities to address complex global challenges effectively. Supercomputing has the potential to harness UN data by significantly enhancing data-driven anticipatory action and the development of more sophisticated models that can inform policy and decision-making.

In parallel, both partners will work to establish a UNICC presence in Luxembourg, as well as aUNICC data centre, which will benefit from the country’s unique ecosystem of digital services, robust regulatory environment and role as a hub for European and global institutions.The Government of Luxembourg, with its strong commitment to secure technology and data for development and humanitarian action, as well as significant supercomputing capabilities, is ideally positioned to host a UNICC presence focused on cybersecurity and advanced computing.

This groundbreaking partnership will leverage Luxembourg’s renowned commitment and expertise in cybersecurity, supercomputing and sustainable digital infrastructure. This collaboration also underscores our dedication to ensuring that even the most resource-constrained UN system offices and field locations can benefit from a robust and secure digital environment. My profound gratitude to the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for its crucial contribution to the UNICC Cybersecurity Fund and its strong support for our work through this new collaborative framework.

Sameer Chauhan, Director, UNICC

Thanks to the Strategic Partnership Framework, UNICC Luxembourg will ensure that technical knowledge and capacity can be effectively shared and transferred from Luxembourg to UN entities and countries in the Global South where UNICC’s partners are operating on the ground.

For more information, please contact:

• At UNICC: [emailprotected]
• At Luxembourg: [emailprotected]