FLAD, Atlantic Center and IDN distinguish winners of the Atlantic Security Award 2026

Bruno Cunha and Priscila Cunha are the winners of the Atlantic Security Award 2026, an initiative that supports innovative research on the main security challenges in the Atlantic area.

The Atlantic Security Award is the result of a partnership between the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD), the Atlantic Center and the National Defense Institute (IDN), with the aim of promoting research and knowledge on strategic issues related to the security of the Atlantic. Each winning project receives funding of 15 thousand euros.

Bruno Cunha, from Portucalense University – Infante D. Henrique, was distinguished for the project “ARC: Adaptive Response Coordination for Atlantic Submarine Cable Incidents”. With a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Trás-os-Montes, he proposes to develop a tool based on artificial intelligence to improve the coordination of the means of response to incidents involving submarine cables.

The project aims to test different response strategies through simulations based on real data, contributing to strengthen the protection of these critical infrastructures, responsible for most of the international data traffic.

Priscila Cunha, from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and CCMAR of the University of Algarve, was distinguished for the project “POSEIDON’S GATE: Ocean Intelligence, Acoustic Dominance, and Strategic Sovereignty at the Mediterranean–Atlantic Gateway”.

With a PhD in Environmental Engineering from UERJ, the researcher proposes to study the relationship between oceanography, underwater acoustics and strategic security. The project aims to transform oceanographic data into relevant information for decision-making, analysing how ocean characteristics influence the detection of underwater activities in the Atlantic.

The two projects address emerging challenges for the security of the Atlantic, from the protection of critical infrastructure to the use of scientific knowledge of the oceans as a strategic tool.

With the Atlantic Security Award, FLAD, the Atlantic Center and IDN reinforce their commitment to the production of knowledge and the development of solutions that contribute to the security and resilience of the Atlantic area.