We live in times of heightened geopolitical competition. As new and old actors aim to restructure the global political and security architecture, each country seeks to gain strategic advantage while increasing preparedness for conflict. As the UK navigates the uncertainty, is the conventional wisdom of what we understand about offensive cyber operations the best way to think about what lays ahead? Should the UK need to transition to warfighting, what is the role of cyber operations? What are allies and adversaries doing to prepare, and how can the UK ensure its own advantage? With these questions underpinning current debate and policy thinking, we want to encourage new and original voices to join, challenge, and elevate the conversation – and provide decision-makers with effective and actionable concepts and practices.

The UK Cyber Effects Network seeks to build and strengthen a community of interest focused on cyber effects issues. The Network aims to generate new thinking on the theory and practice of offensive cyber operations, and help develop the next generation of UK experts. The Network is administered by RUSI and funded by the National Cyber Force. As part of the Network, RUSI will publish an Edited Collection of Papers on offensive cyber and other cyber effects operations in spring 2026.

Call for Abstracts

The UK Cyber Effects Network is pleased to announce an open call for original papers that address conceptual, doctrinal, legal, policy, capability and technological aspects of offensive cyber operations. We encourage submissions based on new and original research in alignment with the themes outlined below, and welcome a variety of papers including essays, conceptual notes, analytical case studies and inter-disciplinary interventions. We particularly welcome papers that have direct policy relevance for UK thinking and practice of offensive cyber operations, including lessons learned from international experiences. We are especially keen to receive submissions from scholars and practitioners in the early stages of their careers.

Abstracts are due by 23:59 BST on 30 September 2025. You can locate the submission form below on this page.

We welcome submissions related (but not limited) to the following themes and questions.

  1. Concepts and doctrine
  • Are offensive cyber operations escalatory? How should they be calibrated for competition, crisis and conflict?
  • Is there a specific UK approach to cyber warfare? If not, should there be – and if so, what?
  • What have we learned (or not learned) about the role of cyber operations in wartime from recent conflicts?
  • Have there been any changes to adversaries’ concepts and doctrines for offensive cyber operations? If so, how should this influence the UK’s approach?
  1. Legal and policy
  • How can responsible cyber power be used for national advantage? Are these concepts contradictory?
  • What are the legal and policy implications of non-state actors conducting cyber operations, including hacktivists and the private sector?
  • What legal or policy measures would provide the public with assurance about how cyber effects operations are being delivered?
  • How does just war theory apply when it comes to competition and conflict in (and through) cyberspace?
  • Is the UK disadvantaged in comparison to its adversaries by its commitment to ‘precision, accountability and calibration’ in delivering responsible cyber operations? If so, how can these disadvantages be overcome?
  1. Capability and technology
  • What are the next generation capabilities the UK does or doesn’t need? 
  • What are the implications of optimising cyber effects capabilities for contingency use?
  • How can the UK develop, test and sustain agile, multi-purpose cyber capabilities?
  • How can industry help scale UK offensive cyber capabilities?  
  • What sort of frameworks should guide and bound the development and use of the next generation of offensive cyber capabilities (e.g. AI-generated or automated capabilities)?

Guidelines

  • Abstracts should be no longer than 250 words, including the research question, methodology and key findings.
  • Please include a CV for each author.
  • Final abstract submission deadline 23:59, 30 September 2025.
  • Authors whose abstracts have been selected will be notified by 17 October 2025.
  • Please note that the full paper submissions must be between 3,000-5,000 words including references.
  • Deadline for full paper submission will be 30 January 2026.
  • Please note that if AI tools have been used in the drafting of the paper and/or methodology, this should be clearly noted at the time of submission.
  • Contributors in sensitive roles can contribute anonymously. If you are interested in publishing a paper anonymously, please reach out to the team via the main Cyber Effects Network contact form.

Contact

Please go to our contact page should you have any preliminary questions about the suitability of a topic or paper format. We have also put together a FAQ section which you can find at the bottom of this page, please consult it before you decide to contact us.

Abstract and CV Submission Form


In alignment with data privacy regulations, we will delete submitted documents once the selection process is complete.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should the abstract be and when is the deadline?

The abstract should be no longer than 250 words, and the final deadline for submission is 23:59, 30 September 2025.

Can I submit more than one abstract?

To allow access to as broad as possible a range of authors, we ask that you limit yourself to one submission only per author/group of authors. If you have more than one idea and are unsure which would be most suited, please get in touch with us via the online form.

What article types will you consider?

We are happy to consider a wide range of formats including essays, research articles, policy briefs and case studies. Please note that, if accepted, your final work will need to be 3,500-5,000 words including references. We will not be able to accept longer pieces.

Can I submit articles based on research looking at non-UK case studies?

Yes. We welcome submissions on a broad range of topics provided that your analysis includes the relevance of the case study for UK policy interests and concerns.

Can I submit an abstract based on work that has already been published?

No, we are looking for new and original ideas. However, if you have already presented the idea at a conference or workshop, and are developing it for publication, we are happy to consider abstracts based on this, provided that have not already been published in written form.

Who can submit an abstract?

We welcome submissions from individuals, including joint authors, working in an academic, research or policy setting as well as the private sector. However, we do not accept abstracts from companies or abstracts putting forward company views rather than independent research.

Do I need to be UK based to submit an abstract?

You do not need to be based in the UK to submit an abstract.

What information do I need to submit?

Please include the full title of your submission (max 15 words); your abstract (max

250 words, including the research question, methodology and key findings); the names and CV of each author.

When will I receive notification of whether my abstract has been accepted?

Authors whose abstracts have been selected will be notified by 17 October 2025. Regrettably, we may not be able to get back to those who have been unsuccessful by the same deadline.

If accepted, what will I need to send with the full submission?

Full paper submissions must be between 3,500-5,000 words including references, with a final submission date of 30 January 2026.Please note that we are unable to make exceptions to this deadline for individual cases.