Co-ordination of funding calls, events and workshops

Imperial College London and The University of Surrey will be helping promote the UK’s digital security and resilience when they jointly take over hosting the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC’s) Research Institute in Verified Trustworthy Software Systems, known as VeTSS.

One of four research institutes within the NCSC and supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), VeTSS brings together leading academics, industry professionals, regulators and government representatives to ensure research into software stays focused on the safety and security challenges faced by the UK and mitigates the risks posed.

Dr Brijesh Dongol (University of Surrey), said: “The software systems driving the world must function together reliably and securely, despite being created by a range of organisations across the globe. While this demonstrates a complex challenge, correct software underpins the trustworthiness and resilience of modern computing systems and is thus economically vital. VeTSS brings together the best minds in academia and business to stand at the forefront of research creating industrial-strength tools with real-world applications.”

Dr Azalea Raad (Imperial College London), said: “Software systems underpin and permeate all aspects of modern life. It is therefore increasingly important to develop safe, secure and trustworthy software systems. VeTSS will help cement the UK’s leadership in verified software by providing an inclusive community that will bring together the foremost verification researchers and practitioners, facilitating active engagement between academia, industry and government stakeholders.”

The University of Surrey will work closely with Imperial College London to co-ordinate funding calls and organise events and workshops, ensuring voices are heard from different sectors, like private companies, university research centres, and public sector organisations. The award by NCSC of £1.25m covers hosting the research institute for three years.