New Applicants Sought for IUK’s Cyber Security Academic Start-ups Programme

The UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK (IUK), has partnered with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to invest up to £800,000 in innovative cyber security ideas coming from the academic research base, in order to identify the best commercial opportunities in academia in respect to cyber security.

IUK defines ‘cyber security’ to mean protecting information systems (hardware, software and associated infrastructure), the data on them, and the services they provide, from unauthorised access, harm or misuse.

This is phase 1 of a 1-year programme and will last up to four months. Phase 1 is to determine the value of the idea and, if appropriate, to identify the best commercial route to progress. The programme will be supported by industry experts, including those from cyber security. Successful applicants will be invited to apply for phase 2 to build a minimal viable product.

All individuals based in a UK academic institution are eligible to apply, including but not limited to early career researchers and senior academic researchers. They must have a cyber security idea and be interested in commercialising it, and applicants must have the support of their academic institution’s technology transfer office, or equivalent.

Projects can have total costs up to £16,000 paid as a grant. IUK will fund feasibility projects, industrial research projects and experimental development projects. Applicants can apply for funding support up to 100% of their eligible project costs. The grant may be used to fund salary, travel and accommodation expenses for the individual that will take part in the programme. The grant will be paid at the end of the programme to the academic institution only.

IUK plans to accept up to 25 applications.

Proposals should include the applicant’s area of research, the problem they are solving and their proposed solution.

The programme opens to applications on 11 February 2019 and applications must be submitted by the 6 March 2019 deadline.

More information about this research funding opportunity and the application process is available on the RESEARCHconnect funding information platform. RESEARCHconnect provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on research funding news and policy. To find out more about how RESEARCHconnect can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.