ACCELERATOR PROGRAMME OFFERS FUNDING AND SUPPORT TO CYBER SECURITY PROJECTS FOR SIXTH YEAR RUNNING

Academic project teams working in cyber security are invited to apply to CyberASAP to fast-track the commercialisation of their research and ideas, by 2 March.

CyberASAP, part of the National Cyber Strategy from DCMS intended to develop the world’s best and most secure digital economy, aims to help academic project teams turn their research into profitable businesses.

The programme, delivered by Innovate UK KTN and now concluding its fifth year, gives promising project teams funding, support and guidance, as well as direct access to industry experts, concluding in a live demo day to potential investors and commercial partners. 

The alumni that have gone on to be acquired by larger firms or create successful businesses in their own right, include London-based Graphics Fuzz which was acquired by Google, Bristol-based KETS Quantum, Cardiff-based AWEN Collective and Manchester-based cyber edtech company, CAPSLOCK Education.  The cumulative total of further funding secured by the alumni, as a direct result of the programme, exceeds £17 million.

Dr Martin Higgins from Royal Imperial Black Box, alumnus from the most recent year of CyberASAP, says,

“As academics we often live in a bubble doing research that, while interesting to us, is not always valuable to the wider community.  CyberASAP has helped me change that and learn how to think commercially.  It has given me skills in market validation and value proposition I likely would never have gained from a pure academic setting.  On top of that, it has given me a wide network of academic and industry contacts which will prove invaluable across the rest of my career. “

Lorna Armitage, co-founder of CAPSLOCK Education, says,

“CyberASAP was our catalyst.  It was a pivotal moment in turning a pipe-dream into something that seemed possible.”

Daniel Lewis from CyberASAP Alumnus Awen Collective, says,

“CyberASAP kickstarted my journey and gave me the confidence to step away from academia, and do something that potentially makes a huge impact to society.”

Jake Christoforou, Mercia Asset Management PLC, says,

“CyberASAP is a brilliant initiative for early-stage academic cyber security start-ups giving their ideas commercial rigour to form go-to-market strategies”

Emma Fadlon, CyberASAP co-director at Innovate UK KTN, says,

“CyberASAP is designed to accelerate the commercialisation of cutting-edge cyber security research and development.  Over five years, we’ve helped our alumni progress their projects to acquisition or to become fully fledged businesses in their own right, furthering the Government’s aim to help the UK economy remain confident, capable and resilient in the fast-moving digital world.  If you have commercial aspirations for your cyber security research, please sign up!”

Applications for the next year of CyberASAP close on 2 March.  To find out more about CyberASAP or to register, visit https://ktn-uk.org/programme/cyberasap.