Cyber Defence Innovation Challenge

Date: Wednesday 14 December

Timings: 11:30 - 13:00

Venue: Online

Audience: University of Exeter Academics only

Registration via Eventbrite, click here to register. 

Calling all academics with ideas for cyber innovation in science and technology. Frazer-Nash Consultancy is inviting interest from experts who can support the Defence Science and Technology Lab (Dstl's) Autonomous Resilient Cyber Defence (ARCD) Programme.

Frazer-Nash is inviting interest from academics who have potential innovations in science and technology that can support the Dstl Autonomous Resilient Cyber Defence (ARCD) programme, offering people an opportunity to pitch your idea. With the top ideas contracted by Frazer-Nash.

ARCD is a four-year programme (completing March-25), which aims to develop self-defending, self-recovering concepts for military operational platforms and technologies, with an aspiration to achieve ‘Full Auto’ cyber defence. At the end of year four we will demonstrate an ARCD system integrated into a representative environment under active attack, and in doing so build an enduring capability in the UK to develop and apply research on ARCD, specifically encompassing Cyber and AI skills.

As defence networks and systems are becoming more complex and interconnected to meet operational demands, it is becoming increasingly difficult for cyber defenders to respond effectively to incidents. In parallel, aggressors are adopting increasingly sophisticated approaches and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) approaches to outpace defenders.

Identifying, selecting and carrying out cyber defence responses in a machine relevant timeframe is essential to mitigate these threats. The use of AI and ML techniques are a critical defence against these attacks; research is needed to develop and mature these techniques for Defence.

ARCD is looking to identify truly novel low TRL research areas that take advantage of areas where the UK is, or is poised to be, a world leader. Frazer-Nash is looking to fund research to conduct horizon-scanning to generate a high-risk/high-impact research landscape. Frazer-Nash is looking to engage with a broad range of suppliers and members of the academic community, particularly those with expertise who do not traditionally deliver into defence.

The programme is happy to support people from all areas (research, PhD’s, Post-doctorates, lecturers) with the aim of getting each applicant to pitch their ideas for the opportunity to gain funding.

If you’re an academic that can help achieve any of the below project outcomes, then please sign up to the information event on Wednesday 14 December to find out more and next steps.

• Undertaking high risk, low technology-readiness level (TRL), research tasks

• Developing an ARCD Concept Demonstrator, covering:

o Autonomous threat analysis, forecasting and prediction

o Mission aware autonomous decision making, and

o Effectors for automated response