In CIPHER, Project Coordinator EVIDEN holds the helm of the consortium (WP1) while simultaneously driving the technical development of the pentesting and simulation environments (WP4).
Meet the faces behind the project
- Cristian Radu is Technical Expert at EVIDEN. In CIPHER, he acts as Technical Lead for the EVD, overseeing the technical vision, architecture, and coherence of EVD’s contributions while ensuring alignment with the project’s overarching objectives. In this role, he coordinates the design and implementation of core technical components that underpin the CIPHER experimentation laboratory and its deployment across the cloud-to-edge continuum.
He also acts as the primary point of contact for technical coordination within the consortium, facilitating cross‑partner technical alignment and supporting the integration of advanced cybersecurity capabilities tailored to the needs of critical infrastructure sectors.
My focus in CIPHER is to ensure that the technical architecture
remains coherent, scalable, and aligned with the project’s objectives, while enabling
effective integration across partners.
- Mihai Cical contributes to CIPHER as a Technical Engineer with a strong focus on DevOps practices. In this role, he supports the design, deployment, and operation of the project’s experimentation infrastructure spanning the cloud‑to‑edge continuum. His work centers on enabling reliable, scalable, and automated environments that form the foundation of CIPHER’s cybersecurity testing and validation capabilities. Within EVD, Mihai assists in deploying and orchestrating core services related to the cyber‑range environment and automated security testing frameworks. His DevOps expertise is instrumental in enabling repeatable experimentation, seamless integration of security enablers, and the efficient operation of CIPHER’s “security‑as‑a‑service” laboratory for critical infrastructure sectors.
Don’t let fear or insecurity stop you from trying new things.
- AdrianIonuț Bușe contributes to CIPHER as a Technical Engineer, supporting the development, integration, and validation of the technical components that underpin the CIPHER experimentation laboratory. His work focuses on ensuring the correct implementation and interoperability of security enablers within the project’s cloudtoedge deployment infrastructure. As part of EVD’s technical team, Adrian is involved in the setup and configuration of platforms supporting the cyber range environment, automated testing services, and experimentation scenarios.
Security is only as strong as the infrastructure behind it. In CIPHER,
I get to build that infrastructure — and make sure it holds under pressure.
- Ioana supports CIPHER as the Technical Writer & Documentation Lead, responsible for translating complex technical developments into clear, accurate, and structured documentation. She contributes to the preparation of technical deliverables, system descriptions, and supporting materials that ensure consistency, traceability, and accessibility of project outputs. Working closely with EVD’s technical team, Ioana ensures that the documentation reflects the evolution of the CIPHER laboratory, its deployment infrastructure, and the associated cybersecurity frameworks.
I strongly believe that building bridges is for closing gaps and opening new perspectives. CIPHER embodies this principle – it creates a bridge, metaphorically speaking, as it is in fact a laboratory – bringing together essential service providers, CI operators, and national cybersecurity authorities, committed to assessing and strengthening their preparedness against cyber incidents and emerging threats.
- Ovidiu Calancea is Senior Project Manager & Ecosystem manager. In CIPHER, he is co-managing with the Project Manager the cascade funding distribution process according to the project specific requirements. Ovidiu acts as Project Manager within the CIPHER project, with a dedicated role in managing and coordinating the Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) scheme on behalf of EVD. He is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the cascade funding activities, ensuring their alignment with project objectives, governance rules, and EU requirements. In this role, Ovidiu supports the preparation, launch, and monitoring of FSTP calls, working closely with technical and administrative teams to ensure transparent processes, timely execution, and proper follow‑up of funded activities.
Through CIPHER, we’ll not just distributing funds: we’ll empower innovators to transform ideas into impactful digital solutions. Cascade funding becomes the engine that accelerates Europe’s next wave of secure, trusted technologies.
- Georgiana Tudora is External Funding Project Manager. In CIPHER, she acts as the Project Coordinator, overseeing overall project execution, partner coordination, and strategic alignment with the project’s technical and administrative objectives. She serves as primary liaison between EVD, the consortium partners, and project governance structures. In this role, Georgiana is responsible for coordinating contributions across work packages, ensuring consistency between technical progress and management activities, and supporting compliance with contractual, financial, and reporting obligations.
Cybersecurity is about anticipating the unexpected. So is coordination – thirteen partners, multiple work packages, one direction. Chaos is just a plan that hasn’t been coordinated yet.
About EVIDEN
EV1 stands as a wholly owned subsidiary of Evolution Energy Minerals Limited (EEML), a notable entity in the energy and minerals sector. As a subsidiary, EV1 operates under the umbrella of EEML’s strategic vision, bringing forth specialised expertise in sustainable graphite products for the global green economy. EEML owns the Chilalo Graphite Project in Tanzania, positioning it as a key player in sustainable mineral extraction, crucial for advancing the goals of the green economy worldwide.