This theme is about building systems that are secure by default, embedding resilience into software so it can anticipate threats, contain failures, and recover autonomously. Our work goes beyond patching vulnerabilities, ensuring critical infrastructures remain operational under attack, while applying best practices and guidelines across the entire software engineering lifecycle.

This theme focuses on developing multi-layered, intelligent defenses that anticipate and respond to threats across complex emerging cyber-physical systems. By leveraging advanced data analytics and applied AI, we can predict attack vectors and orchestrate coordinated protective actions in real time. Our work delivers actionable intelligence while ensuring systems remain scalable, adaptive, and secure as they evolve.

This theme focuses on dependable and trustworthy AI, strengthening the security of ML-enabled systems to ensure they act predictably, transparently, and ethically. By embedding explainability, accountability, and robustness, we address both epistemic and ethical challenges that arise when AI interacts with critical infrastructure or sensitive decision-making. The goal is to build confidence in intelligent systems while keeping them resilient and secure.