Institute for Information Industry (III) — “2026 Shalun Cybersecurity Rising Stars Competition”

The Shalun Cybersecurity Service Base, under the Digital Industry Agency and operated by the Institute for Information Industry (III), is Taiwan’s first integrated cybersecurity practice hub combining exhibition, training, simulation, and validation functions. The base aims to strengthen industry cybersecurity capabilities and promote cross-domain collaboration and co-creation between Taiwan’s industries and the cybersecurity sector, fostering mutual growth and innovation.

To identify emerging cybersecurity talent and cultivate professionals aligned with industry needs in cybersecurity applications and services, the Shalun Base is organizing the “2026 Shalun Cybersecurity Rising Stars Competition” (hereinafter referred to as “the Competition”), with the goal of developing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

Key Information: Please refer to the official call for proposals for full details

1. Eligibility:
Open to currently enrolled undergraduate students in their second year or above at universities and colleges in Taiwan. Students in in-service master’s programs and international students from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao are not eligible.

2. Team Formation:
Each team must consist of 2 to 5 members. Cross-university teams are allowed. Each team must include one academic advisor and one industry mentor.

3. Competition Themes:
Industrial control system cybersecurity, IoT cybersecurity, Zero Trust security, post-quantum cybersecurity applications, AI cybersecurity applications, product cybersecurity, and robotics cybersecurity.

4. Competition Structure:
The competition consists of two stages: preliminary review and final round.

• Preliminary Round: Document-based review. Up to 15 teams will be selected, with the possibility of fewer selections depending on evaluation results.
• Final Round: Selected teams will present their implemented projects on-site and participate in a Q&A session with judges for final evaluation.

5. Awards and Incentives:

• Project Implementation Grant: NTD 20,000 per team for teams selected in the preliminary round.
• Mentorship Subsidy: NTD 10,000 per team for teams selected in the preliminary round.
• Competition Prizes (Total prize pool: up to NTD 300,000):
  • First Prize: 1 team, NTD 120,000
  • Second Prize: 1 team, NTD 70,000
  • Third Prize: 1 team, NTD 50,000
  • Honorable Mention: 2 teams, NTD 30,000 each
• Industry Resources: Teams selected for the preliminary round will be eligible to participate in cybersecurity courses at the Shalun Base, as well as cybersecurity lectures, company visits, and talent matchmaking events under the “Cybersecurity Rising Stars Series.”

6. Registration:
Teams must complete online registration via iEvent (https://ievents.iii.org.tw/EventS.aspx?t=0&id=3124) by 12:00 PM, May 15, 2026. In addition, the team leader must email the completed registration documents to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to complete the application process.

The official call for proposals and related competition documents are attached. For detailed information regarding procedures, awards, rights, and obligations, please refer to the official guidelines.

Contact Information:
Ms. Zhang, Institute for Information Industry
Tel: +886-6-303-2260 ext. 535
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

※The above is an AI-generated translation and may not be 100% accurate. For reference only — please double-check any important details.