September 27, 2016

A partnership between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, GCHQ and the nation’s top tech start-ups to develop new technologies aimed at protecting the UK from cyber attacks has been announced.

Wayra UK, part of Telefónica Open Future, has been chosen to run a new cyber accelerator facility with the aim of helping UK start-ups grow and take the lead in producing the next generation of cyber security systems.

The tie-up is the first step in the development of two world-leading innovation centres as part of the Government’s £1.9 billion National Cyber Security Programme.  The Government says that it will see start-ups gaining access to GCHQ’s world-class personnel and technological expertise to allow them to expand capability, improve ideas and devise cutting-edge products to outpace current and emerging threats.

The facility will also fast-track new firms into the booming cyber security sector, which contributed £1.8 billion in exports to the UK economy last year and grew from £17.6 billion in 2014 to almost £22 billion in 2015.

Minister of State for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock MP said: “We are making progress in our ambitious programme to support innovation in cyber security, grow the UK’s thriving sector and protect Britain from cyber attacks and threats.  Our two new Cyber Innovation Centres will bring together government, academic and business expertise, and will be invaluable in helping support start-up companies and develop world-class cyber technology”.

The cyber accelerator facility will be based at a new Cheltenham Innovation Centre and is due to open around the turn of the year.  A second innovation centre will open in London in 2017.  DCMS is contributing £50m over the next five years to deliver the two innovation centres.

The call for start-ups to apply is now open.  For further information, click here.