In a bid to protect the country from cyber attacks, the UK government will now partner with tech startups to develop new technologies aimed at cybersecurity.
According to a statement, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Wayra UK and GCHQ – the UK’s intelligence and cybersecurity agency – have joined forces to design and launch a new cybersecurity accelerator. This unique partnership comes as the first wave of activity towards developing two world-leading innovation centres as part of the Government’s £1.9bn National Cyber Security Programme.
After a rigorous and exhaustive screening process, candidates will be selected to gain access to GCHQ’s database of tech expertise and personnel. This will serve as a dive-board to allow them to improve capability and ideas, and develop innovative technology to counteract emerging threats.
Speaking confidently about this new venture, Matt Hancock, Minister of State for Digital and Culture, said,
We are making progress in our ambitious programme to support innovation in cyber security, grow the UK’s thriving sector and protect Britain from cyber attacks and threats.
This new development follows right after Hancock spoke at a Sharing Economy UK event two days ago, expressing the benefits of working collaboratively with industry to make sure the UK became the ‘natural home’ for firms operating in the sharing economy sector.
The all-important accelerator is scheduled to open around the end of the year, based at a new Cheltenham Innovation Centre. Yet another innovation centre is chalked up to open in London in 2017.
Matt further added,
Our two new Cyber Innovation Centres will bring together government, academic and business expertise, and will be invaluable in helping support start-up companies and develop world-class cyber technology.
At the heart of these developing security schemes lies a fierce ability to keep up with current requirements. The UK is perhaps all set to become the model for all successive cybersecurity ventures in other countries.
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