"JP-US-EU Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Week for the Indo-Pacific Region" Held

• * IPA ICSCoE Website

** invited countries/regions: ASEAN member states, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Mongolia and Taiwan

1. Outline of the event

METI and the ICSCoE hosted the JP-US-EU Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Week in collaboration with the US government (DHS/CISA, DOS) as well as the European Commission (DG CONNECT) from October 9 to 13, 2023. The event was held in-person for the first time since 2019.

Cybersecurity measures are more effective when implemented jointly by several organizations or a number of countries. To combat the growing threats stemming from increased digitization and interconnectedness, the geopolitical importance of cybersecurity and cooperation among like-minded countries is indispensable. The Cyber Security Week was first launched in 2018 by Japan in collaboration with the U.S. with the aims of enhancing cybersecurity capacity within the Indo-Pacific region and reinforcing collaboration with respective countries. Recognizing its value, the European Union (EU) officially joined this annual ICS cybersecurity exercise from 2021.

The ICS Cyber Security Week hosted participants from the Indo-Pacific region who are information and operational cybersecurity experts from critical infrastructure operators, cybersecurity experts from national Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs), and policy experts from relevant ministries and authorities.

The one-week program provided participants with unique and valuable opportunities to participate in hands-on training featuring AI, hacked robotic arms, and a simulated tampering with a water-level regulation system in an industrial plant, as well as cybersecurity-related seminars taught by experts from Japan, the U.S. and the EU on four topics: awareness of issues and initiatives by government officials in each region; standardization; incident response; and supply chain risk management. Through this event, participants were able to acquire knowledge, enhance their thinking on cybersecurity policy and tangibly improve their cybersecurity capabilities.

The program also contributed to establishing a common understanding on ICS cybersecurity and strengthening relationships between the Indo-Pacific region and Japan, the U.S. and the EU, which will become a foundation for further international cooperation in jointly addressing growing cybersecurity threats. Under the vision of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” METI and the ICSCoE will continuously endeavor to enhance the cybersecurity capacity of the whole region, in particular by reinforcing measures for critical infrastructure. 

2. Training program

• Program (Schedule, Program structure, the names of speakers is attached)(PDF:300KB)

Opening remarks from Japan, the U.S. and the EU

• 
  Mr. Raymond F. GREENE
  Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Tokyo
• 
  Mr. Jean-Eric PAQUET
  Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the European Union to Japan

Key note speech

• 
  Ms. Jen Easterly
  Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
• 
  Ms. Lorena Boix Alonso
  Director for Digital Society, Trust & Cybersecurity, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG Connect), European Commission

Hands-on Training

In the hands-on training exercise, a simulation of a water-level control system used in industrial plants, etc., and AI-based robotic arms were tampered with for demonstration.

Related Links

• News release: DG Connect
• News release: IPA ICSCoE

Division in Charge

Cybersecurity Division, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau