Nihon Cyber Defence and Shizuoka City Announce Strategic Cooperation to Establish Nihon Cyber Shizuoka Centre of Excellence (NCSCOE)
Key Highlights
- Nihon Cyber Defence and Shizuoka City sign a strategic cooperation agreement
- Launch of the Nihon Cyber Shizuoka Centre of Excellence (NCSCOE) for digital, AI, and cybersecurity innovation
- Establishment of an advance AI monitoring center in Shizuoka
- Strong focus on local talent development through education, scholarships, and jobs
- Long-term vision to position Shizuoka as a leading cyber and digital innovation hub in Japan
Shizuoka, Japan – 2025/12/24 — Nihon Cyber Defence (NCD) today announced a strategic cooperation agreement with Shizuoka City following a signing ceremony held with Mayor Namba, marking the launch of a major initiative to strengthen the region’s digital, AI, and cybersecurity capabilities.
“Japan is facing a shortage of cybersecurity professionals that urgently needs to be addressed.”
Takashi Namba, Mayor of Shizuoka City
At the center of this cooperation is the establishment of the Nihon Cyber Shizuoka Centre of Excellence (NCSCOE), a new cybersecurity hub designed to drive innovation, talent development, and sustainable economic growth in Shizuoka. The initiative brings together local government, academia, and industry partners, including Shizuoka Bank, whose support was instrumental in advancing the project.
This initiative is inspired by successful models in which NCD has participated in Ireland and the United Kingdom, where cybersecurity hubs have driven regional economic growth through close and sustained collaboration between government, academia, and industry. Drawing on these successful models, and adapting them to Shizuoka’s unique strengths, we aim to establish a Centre of Excellence that is both globally informed and locally anchored.
The Centre of Excellence will serve as the cornerstone of a broader cybersecurity ecosystem in the region. Its core will include an advance AI monitoring center located on the premises of the hotel Associa Shizuoka, integrating advanced cybersecurity operations, AI-driven projects, and highly skilled professionals. Beyond technology, the initiative is designed to deliver long-term economic and social value for Shizuoka and its citizens.
A key pillar of the project is education and talent development. In partnership with regional universities, including Shizuoka University, NCD will establish scholarship programs to support and attract talented students. These scholarships are intended to support and attract talented students, encourage young people to study in Shizuoka, and build a strong pipeline of cybersecurity professionals rooted in the region.
Through collaboration with universities, technical colleges, and high schools, students will gain access to high-quality education in cybersecurity, AI, and digital technologies, followed by hands-on experience through internships and employment opportunities at the NCSCOE. This end-to-end talent pipeline is intended to ensure that individuals trained in Shizuoka can build long-term careers in the region.
“We aim to contribute to strengthening Japan’s cyber resilience and to position Shizuoka at the forefront of this national effort.”
Cartan McLaughlin, Nihon Cyber Defence CEO
The initiative also addresses a broader national priority. As cyber threats grow in scale and sophistication, Japan faces a significant shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. By establishing the Centre of Excellence, NCD and Shizuoka City aim to contribute to strengthening Japan’s cyber resilience while positioning Shizuoka as a leader in this national effort.
“The collaboration between Nihon Cyber Defence and Shizuoka City may be a small step but has the potential to be transformative for both Shizuoka and Japan’s cybersecurity ecosystem.”
Takashi Namba, Mayor of Shizuoka City
This agreement represents the first step in a long-term partnership between NCD and Shizuoka City. Looking ahead, the parties envision the Centre of Excellence as the foundation for a wider innovation ecosystem—often described as a future “Shizuoka Cyber City”. This ecosystem would support future strategic projects, including the development of data centre infrastructure, while attracting DX, AI, and cybersecurity companies, stimulating local business growth, and creating high-value employment opportunities.
NCD’s CEO Cartan McLaughlin expressed its gratitude to Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Bank, and Hotel Associa Shizuoka for their support, and extended special thanks to Mayor Namba and Nakanishi San, chairman of Shizuoka Financial Group, for their leadership and commitment to Shizuoka’s future.
