CYBERSECURITY POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH COOPERATION IN THE BALTIC STATES

In the digital era, cybersecurity has emerged as a cornerstone of national security and economic resilience, especially for the geopolitically sensitive Baltic States-Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. This study examines the evolution of cybersecurity policy and research collaboration in the region, highlighting significant disparities in research output, institutional capacity, and policy development. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines bibliometric analysis from Scopus (2012–2024) and qualitative review of national and EU-level cybersecurity strategies, the research evaluates the alignment between policy frameworks and research efforts. The findings reveal Estonia as the regional leader in cybersecurity research, accounting for 54% of publications, driven by early investments and the presence of NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. Conversely, Latvia and Lithuania show slower progress, hindered by delayed strategic planning and overreliance on EU funding. In addition, statistical analysis in ANOVA was applied to assess the relationship between funding and the increase in publications. Furthermore, while research collaboration across the region exists, it remains fragmented and underutilised. The paper proposes cooperative models between key institutions and emphasises the need for a unified regional cybersecurity research strategy. Multidisciplinary integration and increased national investment are critical to advancing cyber resilience. Strengthening intra-regional collaboration and diversifying funding mechanisms is imperative to enhancing the Baltic States’ cybersecurity posture and contributing to the EU’s collective digital defence. Keywords: cybersecurity policy, cyber threat intelligence, cyber resilience, research collaboration.