University of Birmingham recognised for excellence in cyber security research

The University of Birmingham has been recognised as an NCSC-EPSRC Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR) for another five years.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, is the UK’s authority on cyber security. It combines world-class academic research with industrial innovation to reduce the cyber security risk to the UK by improving its cyber security and cyber resilience.

Its recognition of Birmingham as an ACE-CSR signifies the consistently high-quality research being conducted in the Security and Privacy group at the University.

The group has expanded greatly in recent years, reflecting the University's continued commitment to supporting world-leading research into cyber security issues affecting industry, government and society.

Professor Mark Ryan, Head of the Security and Privacy group at the University of Birmingham, said:

‘Everything we do in the future will involve digital technology, whether it's driving a car or turning on a light switch. This will create new opportunities and new risks. Therefore it's really important to research the fundamentals and implementations of cyber security.

‘Our renewed recognition as an ACE-CSR is a welcome acknowledgement of the importance of our contribution to cyber security research.’

Over the next five years, the Security and Privacy Group will continue to build on its current reputation with exciting new projects and collaborations in areas such as automotive security, the Internet of Things, Industrial Control Systems and post-quantum cryptography.

The announcement was made today by the Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Rt Hon. Ben Gummer MP, who said:

'Britain has to stay one step ahead of the often invisible cyber wars taking place on our networks, in our homes, and across our infrastructure. We can only do that with truly ground-breaking research. It is critical that the entire UK maintains its strength in this area, from London to Lancaster and from Belfast to Edinburgh.'

Chris Ensor, Deputy Director for Cyber Security Skills and Growth at the NCSC, added:

'It’s fantastic to see so many leading universities committed to trailblazing improvements to the UK’s cyber security research, and it is particularly good to see Scotland represented for the first time.

'At the NCSC, we are absolutely committed to maintaining and improving our already strong reputation as a global leader in cutting edge research, and look forward to collaborating with these establishments to make the UK the safest place to live and work online.

'These universities conduct world class cyber security research and this initiative will improve the way academics, government and business work together – benefiting the whole of the country.'

For more information contact Liz Bell, Communications Manager for Science and Technology at the University of Birmingham, on +44 (0)121 414 5134.

Underpinned by £1.9 billion of investment, the National Cyber Security Strategy sets out the Government’s key cyber security objectives:

• Deter hostile action against the UK
• Defend the UK against evolving cyber threats
• Develop the cyber security industry, create a self-sustaining pipeline of talent into the UK

All universities which are recognised as an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research have met rigorous criteria which assess the quantity and quality of their researchers, their research output and the impact of their research.

The 14 universities to receive recognition as NCSC Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research are:

• University of Birmingham
• University of Bristol
• University of Cambridge
• Lancaster University
• Imperial College London
• Royal Holloway University of London
• University College London
• Newcastle University
• University of Oxford
• Queen’s University Belfast
• University of Southampton
• University of Surrey
• University of Warwick
• University of Edinburgh