Open University of Cyprus (OUC) is participating on-site in the International cyber exercise APEX 2026 in Seoul through the Cyprus Centre for Cybersecurity, Telecommunications and Critical Infrastructure Protection (CTRL).

Established at OUC by Professor Stavros Stavrou, Rector of the Open University of Cyprus, CTRL is playing an active role in the delivery and operational support of the exercise. Through this participation, the Centre is contributing with its expertise to an international cyber defence environment, strengthening Cyprus’s presence in in major international cyber exercises.

CTRL is participating in APEX 2026 following an official invitation from the organisers and is directly involved in supporting the cyber range environment and the technical delivery of the exercise. The OUC delegation to APEX 2026 is led by Professor Stavros Stavrou.

APEX 2026 (Allied Power Exercise) is taking place from 14 to 18 September 2026 in Seoul, Republic of Korea, as part of Cyber Summit Korea 2026. Bringing together participants from 23 countries across the Americas, Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, the exercise is designed to strengthen international cooperation, joint-response capabilities and operational readiness in cyber defence.

A key contribution by OUC is a unique, specialised Cyber Maritime infrastructure developed by CTRL and integrated into the wider exercise environment. This provides participants with a realistic operational setting in which they are required to work together, respond to complex cybersecurity incidents, and test coordinated approaches to cyber response and defence.

APEX is built around realistic cyber-conflict scenarios involving fictional states, with a strong focus on the response and capabilities of defending teams (Blue Teams). This year’s exercise is particularly significant as, for the first time, it includes an artificial intelligence-based Blue Team, providing an opportunity to test advanced technologies and emerging autonomous cyber-defence capabilities.