University awarded major funding for cyber security and nuclear robotics projects to drive UK regional growth
The University of Manchester will partner two new projects which have the capacity to transform science and technology.
The projects are supported through 拢22 million of funding 鈥� of which each will receive 拢5 million - by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Place Based Impact Acceleration Account (PBIAA) scheme.
The first project, CyberFocus, led by Lancaster University, will strengthen and deliver strategic investments in the region鈥檚 cyber ecosystem, fuelling the potential of the North West cyber sector and keeping the UK at the forefront of advance cyber security.
Danny Dresner, Professor of Cyber Security in the Department of Computer Science and the University鈥檚 academic lead for CyberFocus, said: 鈥淭he volatile, risk-filled landscape of cyber security so often gives our adversaries free rein to innovate faster than those who create for the online safety of all of us."
CyberFocus is a much-needed community-based countermeasure to take invention from research to actuality by making an impact for our digital security in the footsteps of other pioneering North West of England cyber security programmes like the famous Cyber Foundry and the Digital Security Hub (DiSH).
CyberFocus brings together the universities of Manchester, Lancaster, Salford, Manchester Metropolitan, Central Lancashire, Cumbria and Liverpool.
It will also be supported by other partners including Team Barrow (Westmorland & Furness Council, and BAE Systems), Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, Cumbria LEP, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Lancashire County Council.
The project aims to act as a catalyst for cyber knowledge exchange across the North West, fostering a collaborative approach to research and innovation, and helping the region drive economic growth and improve cyber resilience.
CyberFocus aims to:
- Create 85 new collaborative partnerships
- Develop 400 new products, processes, or services
- Secure 拢40m additional funding for the region
- Train 300 individuals in cyber innovation skills
The second project, led by the UK Atomic Energy Authority, focuses on nuclear robotics and artificial intelligence. It will connect academia with the supply chain, with the aim of decommissioning the country鈥檚 nuclear legacy, as well as developing technology that can be exploited by the nuclear fusion sector.
Barry Lennox, Professor of Applied Control, in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, is the University鈥檚 lead for this project.
This project will enable The University of Manchester to work directly with robotics organisations in the nuclear supply chain, in both decommissioning and fusion, to ensure that the technology that they have been developing will be exploited by industry.
The project will link Cumbria and Oxfordshire 鈥� its' university partners being The University of Cumbria, The University of Manchester and The University of Oxford 鈥� and hopes to mobilise significant knowledge and technology transfer between these areas.
Being the only research focused university with a research base in West Cumbria, The University of Manchester will also attempt to bring other universities into the region and support them, as they develop technology for the nuclear industry.
The project aims to:
- Create 200 business opportunities
- Establish 10 spin-out companies
- Generate 200 new jobs
- Engage 5,000 people in cluster-driven events
UK Science Minister, Lord Vallance said: 鈥淲e are backing universities across the UK to home in on local strengths in research 鈥� from cybersecurity in Lancaster to maritime in Liverpool, offshore wind in Edinburgh to digital healthcare in Belfast 鈥� to support thousands of local jobs, boost skills and bring new technologies to market.
鈥淭his investment will allow innovators up and down the country to continue or expand their pioneering work to improve lives and kickstart growth in our economy with new opportunities.鈥�
Other ongoing projects at The University of Manchester, funded by EPSRC PBIAA, include the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst (IBIC), which is a collaborative project led by the University, aimed at creating a cohesive ecosystem for Industrial Biotechnology innovation.
UKRI also funds the Impact Acceleration Account (IAA), which provides flexible support to progress the commercialisation and translational development of University research.