Government launches £3.8m cyber security institute

Government launches £3.8m cyber security institute

The government has ramped up moves to tackle growing cyber security threats by launching a £3.8m research institute.

The research institute in the science of cyber security will act as a virtual organisation bringing together academics in cyber security, mathematics, and computer scientists across the UK. It will comprise of seven universities and has backing from the government’s security arm GCHQ.The institute follows the launch of a recent government advice urging companies to tackle the exponential growth in cyber threats at board-level.

David Willetts, minister for Universities and Science, said the institute would enable businesses, government and individuals to better protect themselves from cyber threats: "Britain has one of the largest online economies in the world and a growing cyber security sector, and we need to ensure this success continues,” he said.

Francis Maude, Cabinet Office minister, added: "The UK's first academic research institute will strengthen capability in a strategically important area, keeping the UK at the forefront of international research in the field."

The research institute will open on October 1 2012 for a period of three and a half years.

University College London has been selected to host the research institute, with Angela Sasse taking the role of director of research.

Sasse said: “I am delighted to be leading the new research Institute.  This is an opportunity to work closely with colleagues from different scientific disciplines to tackle the technical, social and psychological challenges that effective cyber security presents.”