A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed this week by the two parties aims to accelerate cyber innovation in both Australia and the UK by providing expertise, resources and capital to enhance the growth of this hugely important sector, an area of strategic priority for both governments, highlighted most recently in Australia’s National Innovation and Science Agenda.
Data61 CEO Adrian Turner said cyber threats transcend geographical boundaries.
“Data61’s goal is to align Australian interests which can create the scale and momentum for development of a vibrant cybersecurity industry,” Mr Turner said.
“We are excited to be partnering with Cyber London to help make this agenda a reality.”
Over the coming months Data61 and Cyber London will work to develop mutually reinforcing programs in the UK and Australia, supporting and commercialising cyber innovation and nurturing talent in both countries.
This MoU includes the development of:
- programs for improved cyber skills and governance;
- the launch of a CyLon accelerator program in Australia; and
- Reciprocal landing pads to enable cyber innovation to be showcased to both buyers and investment capital in each nation.
This partnership will complement initiatives in the Australian Government’s soon to be released Cyber Security Strategy including the recently announced Cyber Security Growth Centre.
The Growth Centre is a component of the National Innovation and Science Agenda and will bring together cyber security research and innovation to grow Australian business opportunities online.
“We are delighted to be working with Data61 and the Australian Federal and State Governments to bring the Cyber London program to Australia,” Co-Founder of Cyber London, Grace Cassy said.
“The team at Data61 have exciting plans to build a regional powerhouse in cyber security, and we look forward to developing our partnership.”
The UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and President of the Board of Trade, The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, has been scheduled to visit Data61 in Sydney today to take part in a Cyber Roundtable with senior members of the Australian Government and business leaders.
“I am very pleased to support this agreement between CyLon and Data61, two organisations at the cutting edge of cyber research and development," Mr Javid said.
“Given our shared history, values and co-operation around issues of security, UK and Australia are ideally placed to work closely as leaders and innovators in the cyber industry.
“This agreement lays the foundation for more formal collaboration and will provide both Australian and UK companies with an enhanced environment for research, innovation and to accelerate the development of new cyber technologies and ideas.”
About Data61
Data61 is Australia’s leading digital research powerhouse, offering the research capabilities, IP and collaboration programs to unleash the country’s digital and data-driven potential, with a global context. By driving collaboration across industry, academia, government and the startup space, Data61 is able to help existing industries transform, and act as a catalyst in the creation of new technology-based industries.
Data61 provides accelerated commercialisation paths for data-centric R&D for economic and societal benefit for Australia with global context. Data61 was formed through the merger of CSIRO Digital Productivity Group and National ICT Australia.
For more information, visit Data61.
About Cyber London
The Cyber London accelerator and incubator combines intensive collaboration, professional training and mentorship, drawing upon the expertise of seasoned entrepreneurs, academic cyber security researchers, government officials and senior executives of customer organisations.
Cyber London accepts applications from entrepreneurial teams with innovative business ideas in the broad field of information and communications, aka ‘cyber’, security.
Cyber London was established in January 2015; its first program concluded in July 2015, with six startups and two companies-in-residence pitching to a Demo Day audience of more than 120 investors, companies, and public sector bodies at the end of a 14 week curriculum.
For more information see: https://cylonlab.com.
