Scottish cybersecurity and cyber resilience experts join forces

The Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (SICSA) launches its new cybersecurity and cyber resilience Cyber Nexus today (17 November), led by the University of St Andrews.

The Cyber Nexus, a £420k 18-month investment by the UK and Scottish governments, brings together Scotland’s academic cybersecurity capability, working together to ensure Scotland is a world leader in cybersecurity and cyber resilience.

Led by Professor Kevin Hammond, Director of SICSA from the School of Computer Science at the University of St Andrews, the Cyber Nexus brings together key researchers from 14 Scottish universities to tackle issues and share expertise surrounding cybersecurity and cyber resilience

Over the next 18 months the Cyber Nexus will work in partnership with academia, industry, the public sector, government and the third sector to review and monitor cybersecurity and cyber resilience capability in Scotland. Researchers will raise awareness of Scotland’s capabilities through public education, outreach and skills development. Central to the Cyber Nexus will be a collaborative approach to working with industry and government to build skills, expertise and co-operation – transferring knowledge, technology and capabilities.

Professor Hammond from the School of Computer Science at the University of St Andrews said: “We are excited by the opportunities that the SICSA Cyber Nexus offers. Recent events have shown how important cybersecurity is to key national infrastructure, such as the National Health Service. Dealing properly with this represents both a tremendous technical challenge and a tremendous opportunity to build on the world-leading work that is coming out of Scotland.

“The seed funding that we have obtained will bring the Scottish community together, focus attention on the key issues that need to be addressed, and create new innovation across Scotland.”

The SICSA Cyber Nexus is UK government funded, and supported by the Scottish Government, in partnership with the National Cyber Resilience Leaders’ Board.

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS/INTERVIEW REQUESTS

Professor Kevin Hammond is available for interview via the Communications Office – contact details below.  

St Andrews has an in-house ISDN line for radio and a Globelynx camera for TV interviews. To arrange an interview please contact the Communications Office in the first instance.

Cyber Nexus

The Cyber Nexus is a partnership of 14 universities led by the University of St Andrews. Other partners include the Universities of Aberdeen, Abertay, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian, Heriot-Watt, Napier, Robert-Gordon, Strathclyde, Stirling, the University of the Highlands and Islands and the University of the West of Scotland.

The Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (SICSA) promotes international excellence in University-led research, education, and knowledge exchange for Scottish Informatics and Computer Science. Visit the SICSA website for more information.

Issued by the University of St Andrews Communications Office. Contact Christine Tudhope on 01334 467 320 / 07526 624 243 or [email protected].