CaixaBank strengthens cybersecurity in critical infrastructures through two European projects focused on AI

• The projects promote advances in the field of cybersecurity, combining the use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain with the development of capabilities aimed at post-quantum security

• CaixaBank leads innovation in cybersecurity through strategic projects in collaboration with international partners

CaixaBank is reinforcing its leadership in cybersecurity through its participation, as the only Spanish financial institution, in two pioneering European initiatives for the protection of critical infrastructure. The VIGILANCE and CYBERAID projects, which will run from the beginning of 2026 until the end of 2028, promote advances in cyber defence through the use of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain, alongside the development of capabilities geared towards post-quantum security. Both projects aim to advance the protection of critical European infrastructure by developing autonomous platforms that not only detect and respond to threats in real time, but also evolve into proactive and adaptive ecosystems. This approach is crucial to addressing the sophisticated cyber threats faced by vital sectors such as finance.

Specifically, the VIGILANCE (Versatile Intelligent aGents for Interconnected Ledgers and Autonomous Next-generation Cybersecurity Ecosystems) project advances the development of an autonomous, scalable, AI-based cyber defence platform. The project proposes a next-generation Zero Trust approach, supported by intelligent agents, adversarial AI, blockchain technologies and post-quantum security mechanisms. 

VIGILANCE will enable early threat detection, dynamic risk assessment and automated response orchestration, evolving from reactive models towards proactive and self-adaptive security ecosystems. The capabilities developed will be validated through large-scale pilots in sectors such as telecommunications, logistics/mobility and finance, strengthening operational resilience and European digital sovereignty.

The financial sector pilot, led by CaixaBank, will focus on complex and interconnected financial environments, assessing the ability of the developed solutions to reduce detection and response times, improve operational resilience and facilitate the integration of post-quantum security mechanisms into current cybersecurity ecosystems.

Meanwhile, the CYBERAID project focuses on increasing the cyber resilience of the financial sector through the development of a cybersecurity infrastructure based on agentic artificial intelligence.

The project aims to develop architectures capable of proactively managing vulnerabilities, incidents and cyber risks through the integration of generative AI and advanced language models (LLMs). By leading a pilot focused on the application of these technologies in real financial services, CaixaBank aims to validate the intelligent orchestration of cybersecurity tools, ensuring much more autonomous management of cyber risks and enabling systems not only to react to events, but also to anticipate and adapt to them.

The projects position CaixaBank at the forefront of European cybersecurity, an increasingly critical field in the face of growing global threats to critical infrastructure. Moreover, by working with international partners, these projects reinforce CaixaBank’s role in advancing towards European digital sovereignty. Through the use of cutting-edge technologies and strategic collaboration, CaixaBank is strengthening its capabilities in ways that benefit not only the institution itself, but the entire European financial ecosystem.

Both projects are funded by the European Commission under the Digital Europe Programme, pursuant to grant agreements No 101249737 (VIGILANCE) and No 101249596 (CYBERAID).

Participation in European projects

Through various funding programmes (Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, etc.), the EU promotes collaborative projects for research and innovation. Funding for these projects is awarded through competitive calls in which public–private consortia submit their proposals. Despite these calls typically being highly competitive, with a large number of proposals submitted, CaixaBank has succeeded in participating in more than 10 successful consortia in recent years, securing over three million euros in funding for technological innovation and cybersecurity.  

In addition to this consortium, CaixaBank has participated in other collaborative R&D projects under different European Commission funding frameworks, aimed at ensuring that Europe produces world-class science and removes barriers to innovation. 

In total, since 2018, the entity has managed to be part of fourteen consortia, thanks to a high acceptance rate in the calls for proposals in which it has participated.

Cybersecurity, a strategic priority

Cybersecurity is a strategic priority for CaixaBank, which has implemented a cybersecurity ecosystem with specialised teams and advanced technology infrastructure to protect digital transactions from security incidents.

The bank invests continually in new technology in order to satisfy customer demands, guarantee their growth, adapt to emerging business needs and provide access to information around the clock. As a result, it ensures a total adaptation of the infrastructure to the needs of financial management and services to customers. ​

Beyond continuously strengthening its technological architecture, the institution also carries out extensive awareness-raising activities to help identify and prevent fraud and digital scams, promoting safe practices in the use of financial channels. Through informative content on its own channels, awareness campaigns, training sessions, and collaborations with media outlets and other institutions, CaixaBank provides ongoing information to enhance digital security and contribute to creating a safer online environment for society as a whole.