Centre fighting cybercrime opens in Cardiff

A centre dedicated to tackling cybercrime formally opens in Cardiff next week.

The Airbus Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Analytics, based at Cardiff University’s School of Computer Science and Informatics, is the first of its kind in Europe.

Researchers working with experts from Airbus will study machine learning, data analytics, and artificial intelligence to help protect corporate IT networks, intellectual property, and critical national infrastructure.

The formal opening on 18 October forms part of Cardiff University Innovation Network’s series of free events which bring business leaders and University experts together to hear inspirational, thought-provoking speakers.

The event follows this week’s European Cybersecurity Forum conference in Krakow, which launched a new ‘Global Ecosystem of Ecosystems’ Partnership in Innovation and Cybersecurity (Global EPIC).

Global EPIC brings together 14 global ecosystems from 10 countries including Wales to develop innovative solutions, drive knowledge sharing, perform trend analyses and research, influence and set standards on a global level.

Cardiff University’s Dr Pete Burnap, Director of the Centre of Excellence for Cyber Security Analytics, said: “Cardiff University has a reputation for research excellence with world-leading impact. Our work on advanced malware classification and dynamic risk modelling are being transitioned into industrial applications that provide an increased level of sophistication for cybersecurity products and services in an era of ever-evolving threats to national and international infrastructure on which society and the economy heavily depend..."

John Davies, who leads the Cyber Wales partnership, was in Poland for the EPIC launch and will address delegates at the opening of the Centre.

“The Cyber Wales ecosystem, fuelled by Cyber Security Clusters, Universities with cyber specialism and Welsh Government’s ICT sector teams, has grown steadily since its inception in 2014,” said Mr Davies.

“Cyber specialists from Wales have forged relationships with many European cyber clusters, such as Estonia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.  We are proud to be a founder member of this global “ecosystem of ecosystems”, which is another step forward for the Welsh cyber community and recognition that Wales really is a hub for cybersecurity expertise on the global stage.

Cardiff University has recently been awarded almost £2m in funding from sources including UK research councils, industry and government to launch new projects aimed at developing cutting-edge machine learning algorithms to detect cyber threats.

Together, Cardiff University and Airbus have already received more than £1m of funding for cybersecurity, including studying risks to the systems underpinning critical national infrastructure, part-funded by the Endeavr programme backed by Airbus and Welsh Government.