EPSRC NetworkPlus to Strengthen the Cybersecurity Research Ecosystem

Funding to establish a NetworkPlus to strengthen the UK’s cybersecurity research ecosystem and develop its people.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is launching this opportunity to establish a NetworkPlus to strengthen collaboration, knowledge exchange, and skills across the various parts of the UK’s evolving cybersecurity research ecosystem. Proposals should be applicable to the wide range of communities comprising this ecosystem.

 The NetworkPlus should address the following (non-exhaustive) objectives:

• Providing leadership of diverse and inclusive interdisciplinary research communities (both new and existing) across academia, policy and industry.
• Providing and improving connectivity between components of the UK cybersecurity research ecosystem.
• Facilitating knowledge exchange between academia, industry, and government.
• Supporting the career development of members of the ecosystem, particularly early career researchers.
• Informing EPSRC’s future investment strategy and our dialogue with government.
• Providing an international perspective to enable targeted collaboration with international partners, as well as benchmarking and horizon scanning to inform prioritisation of challenges.
• Promoting regional strengths, for example via interaction with relevant regional groups such as the UK Cyber Clusters.

In addition, the NetworkPlus should set aside a significant amount of its flexible funds for the award of small grants through open competition, across the broad remit of cybersecurity research.

The NetworkPlus should be inclusive, engaging widely and working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders, project partners, and network members, bringing communities together in a cohesive manner to drive impact and change.

The network can last up to five years.

More information will become available when the funding opportunity opens.