UoG to develop improvements in cyber security through £275k partnership with business

University of Gloucestershire has successfully secured a £275,000 Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) to advance innovation and drive meaningful improvements in cyber security.

The University – a centre of excellence for cyber and computing – is collaborating with wholesale retailer Unielectronics Ltd to research, design and develop an integrated smart cyber-security hub for efficient and effective cyber-security management and threat detection.

The hub will secure system integrations between the information systems of Unielectronics Ltd and its UK and international partners, addressing key cyber-security challenges by incorporating advanced expertise in cybersecurity best practices and data protection.

The project is being carried out as a KTP, a government-funded programme to help businesses access academic expertise and innovate, while also benefiting academics by applying their knowledge to real-world problems.

The partnership will benefit from the University’s new £5.8 million FuturePark, a future-facing space offering state-of-the-art equipment and technology to students as well as businesses and community organisations.

By acting as a hub for knowledge exchange and collaboration, FuturePark will play a key role in cementing Gloucestershire and the region as the cyber capital of the UK.

The project is being funded by Unielectronics Ltd, as well as Innovate UK – part of UK Research and Innovation – which supports and stimulates pioneering work in all sectors and technologies.

The partnership will provide opportunities to bring cutting-edge research undertaken by the University’s expert academics directly into industry application, and provide placement learning and networking opportunities for students on the University’s postgraduate and undergraduate cyber and computing courses,

Dr Will Sayers, Associate Head of the University’s School of Computing, Business and Social Sciences, said:  “We’re excited to have secured funding from Innovate UK for a forward-thinking, solution-driven project that promises meaningful real-world impact for Unielectronics Ltd and deepens our understanding of the cyber challenges facing UK businesses.

“This support from Innovate UK is a clear endorsement of the expertise within our cyber and computing academic teams, as well as the industry insight brought by Unielectronics Ltd. Together, we’re focused on tackling key issues with practical, innovative solutions.

“With the added advantage of our new FuturePark development, we’re well placed to lead sector-wide improvements, strengthen collaboration, and drive continued research and investment in this critical area.”

Dr Shujun Zhang, Professor of Applied Computing and Technology, the academic supervisor of this KTP, said: “I am delighted that we have secured this KTP. It provides us with a chance to transfer our expertise in the areas of AI, data mining, algorithms and smart system design and development to our industrial partner, Unielectronics Ltd. In doing so, we are able to address the cyber security issues associated with its special business-to-business (B2B) model.

“Though I have undertaken about 20 Knowledge Transfer projects, this one has particular technical and practical challenges. However, we will deliver the planned activities through close collaboration between our academic team and industrial partners.”   

Creating cyber-secured business environment

David Gao, Managing Director of Unielectronics Ltd, said: “I am very happy that the government awarded this project, which will enable us to create a cyber-secured business environment to grow our business in this intensively competitive B2B trading industry.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to our government consultant, Mr Mark Matchett, for his professional guidance during the application and to Professor Shujun Zhang and his team, for his month-long day-and-night hard work in designing this project and preparing application materials. I am fully convinced that this KTP will be delivered with fruitful achievements.”