£5m hardware security R&D centre launched at Queen’s University Belfast

Its hub will be the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT), which was launched at Queen’s University Belfast this week.

The Research Institute in Secure Hardware and Embedded Systems (RISE) aims to tackle the problem of cyber threats through four initial component projects, which will be led by UK research partners from Queen’s University, the University of Cambridge, University of Bristol and University of Birmingham.

Professor Máire O’Neill

Professor Máire O’Neill, a cryptography expert at Queen’s University, was selected as director of RISE.

Based at CSIT, Professor O’Neill will work towards increasing the nation’s academic capability in all fields of hardware security.

Professor O’Neill, writes:

“There is huge demand for hardware security research and innovation and RISE is in an excellent position to become the go-to place for high quality hardware security research.”

It is hoped the initiative will bring together the hardware security community in the UK and build a strong network of national and international research partnerships.

“We will also work closely with leading UK-based industry partners and stakeholders, transforming research findings into products, services and business opportunities, which will benefit the UK economy,” said O’Neill.

With funding from the EPSRC and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), this is one of four cyber security institutes in the UK and will be a global hub for research in hardware security over the next five years.

Professor Philip Nelson, Chief Executive of EPSRC, writes:

“The new Research Institute will increase our understanding of hardware security technology, leading to pioneering new approaches and fostering collaboration between leading researchers, the National Cyber Security Centre and industry partners to make the UK a more resilient nation.”