Regional Assets | NW Cyber Corridor

Lancaster University’s strong track-record across teaching, research and engagement places it among world-leaders in cyber security. It is one of a handful of universities in the UK, and the only one in the North West, to be recognised for both its excellence in research and education by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – the UK Government’s lead cyber security agency. This includes recognition as a Gold Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education, having an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research and a certified Cyber Security Master’s programme.

Security, Trust and Privacy - Developing and protecting the next generation of smart infrastructure for financial markets, transport, healthcare and sustainable smart cities. Our theme specialises in smart infrastructure - developing and protecting the data-controlled systems that interact with the physical world.The university are building the world’s first open-source, smart, digital twin for critical national infrastructure (CNI) which addresses industry-focused cybersecurity and communication challenges in Internet-of-Things-enabled CNI.

The Cyber Solutions Centre at the University of Lancashire is a transformational initiative from the University to develop and offer cyber provision.

With the recent announcement that the National Cyber Force (NCF) UK is to be based in Preston, the University is a core academic partner.

The new centre will be pivotal to support the NCF delivery within the region and nationally. As part of this new initiative, the centre will support activities comprising of business support, research, knowledge exchange and CPD delivery within cyber and cyber security.

University of Lancashire

The Cybersecurity Institute serves as a central hub, bringing together researchers working at different departments of the University of Liverpool who share a common interest in cybersecurity.

The main aim of the Institute is to facilitate knowledge sharing, collaboration, partnerships, and the development of innovative solutions.

The focus of the Centre for Digital Trust and Society is on barriers to and enablers of trust in digital technologies. The Centre drives forward an interdisciplinary research agenda that is timely and innovative, building a holistic, interdisciplinary understanding of what trust and security could be, and should be, in the digital era. The Centre focuses on barriers to and enablers of trust in digital technologies. Its scope includes cybersecurity but goes beyond this as it sees digital security as part of a set of broader issues of trust and trustworthiness, distrust and trust exploitation, and trust-building and resilience.

Salford University is a global institution that serves the needs of industry, commerce and education. Its thriving industry-focused research is cutting edge, rising to the challenges and opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution. As ‘thinking machines’ continue to replace human tasks and jobs, and smart cities become a reality, the focus for the next few years is to strengthen its position specifically in robotics, digital and smart living.

The university already has a solid base on which to build from, as these three areas cut across everything that they already do.

The University of Cumbria is a Cathedrals Group University and recognise that education, now more than ever, must focus on a deeper purpose, a commitment to fairness, an inclusive ethos and a rounded view on how people grow and thrive. Research at the University of Cumbria focuses on learning technical skills inline with the latest information and technology.

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LENS

Collaborative co-working spaces at Lancaster University designed to foster innovation and growth in digital and cyber-related businesses. The LENS provides space, support, and resources for businesses to innovate and grow, particularly in the cyber security sector. It connects businesses with the university's research community, offering opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration.

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Data Immersion Suite

The Data Immersion Suite at Lancaster University is a dedicated teaching and research facility with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment including a 22-metre partial wrap-around video wall comprising of 48x55’’ high resolution screens. The facility enables users to explore complex problems using on-screen data visualisations with real-time updates from cyber and physical systems. It offers businesses and industry the opportunity to engage with experts from Lancaster University to understand how they can use the facility to explore data-driven solutions tailored to their business.

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Greater Manchester Digital Security Hub (DiSH)

A partnership between Barclays Eagle Labs, Plexal, Lancaster University and Manchester University. A hub in Manchester city centre to bring together experts in digital and cyber security from the public, private and academic sectors to help Greater Manchester’s digital security startups to innovate and grow.

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Fraser House

A diverse and inclusive co-working space for tech and digital businesses in Lancaster which fosters collaboration and encourages innovation. It is a community-driven workspace with a mission to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where tech and digital professionals from all backgrounds can come together to collaborate, innovate, and grow.

The Lancashire Cyber Alliance is a new collaboration of cyber security professionals and experts within their field. It is open to all including; SMEs and large businesses, skills providers and public sector organisations.

The LCA is a spoke of the North West Cyber Security Cluster (NWCSC), that provides a voice for each region within the North West of England. The NWCSC is affiliated with the UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration (UKC3) and the DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport).

The North West Cyber Security Cluster (NWCSC) is a Not-for-Profit Community Interest Company. NWCSC are a collaboration of cyber security professionals and experts in the North West region. Their purpose is to support, connect and empower the cyber security community in the North West region by focusing on 3 key areas: Innovation Connection, Skills Growth and Ecosystem Development.

Their mission is to promote innovation, support skills growth, and develop a robust cyber security ecosystem. NWCSC offer free membership to NW individuals, organisations, and businesses with an interest in cyber security.

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North West Regional Defence and Security Cluster

The aim for the North West Regional Defence and Security Cluster is to be recognised as the leading Defence and Security region in the UK by supporting individual clusters and trade bodies that are uniquely coincident in the North West to exploit opportunities collaboratively, in pursuit of improved prosperity for all of our communities. Their mission is to enable Defence and Security innovation to be tested, partnerships to be made and growth at scale to be realised through the cutting-edge R&D capabilities, significant manufacture, assembly and test infrastructures and collaborative approaches available in the North West.

The Greater Manchester Cyber Security Advisory Group reflects the cyber security capabilities of Greater Manchester and drives forward inclusive economic growth for the city-region and the North. The group will provide strategic oversight and a force for inclusive economic growth, taking an ecosystem approach to building that capability and economic resilience.

The group will help Greater Manchester be recognised as a world class centre for cyber security and digital trust, and No. 1 in the UK with strengthened links to similar centres internationally.

MIDAS is the inward investment promotion agency for Greater Manchester, with a strategic aim to secure significant levels of new investment for the city region to create and safeguard jobs.

This is achieved through the global business marketing of the city region's key sectors and the provision of an extensive package of free advice and assistance for potential investors and location consultants.

MIDAS has helped hundreds of businesses successfully relocate to or expand in Greater Manchester.

Lancashire’s leading international and national position in relation to aerospace, advanced engineering and manufacturing, energy, higher education institution excellence and visitor economy make it a pivotal part of the long term economic growth of the North. Lancashire’s strengths to attract inward investment, to retain the best talent and unlock the area’s potential are being crystallised and supported by world-class, flagship projects backed by the LEP including UCLan’s £30m state-of-the-art Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) in the heart of the Preston, and the Health Innovation Campus at Lancaster University, both of which are due to open in 2019.

NW CyberCom is a £1.2 million project aiming to unlock the cyber security potential of the North West. Led by Lancaster University, the six partner universities capture the very latest cyber security innovations and partner with entrepreneurs, investors, government and businesses to transform cutting-edge knowledge into innovative new products, services and policy, to better protect consumers, businesses and UK infrastructure. Funded by Research England’s Connecting Capability Fund, the NW CyberCom project is supported by Plexal; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and lead consultancy, CRSI.

Supported by Lancashire County Council, fhunded is the county’s dedicated early-stage investment initiative. Through a range of activities, fhunded helps to facilitate a growing community of businesses, investors and service providers who are all focused on discovering new opportunitieWe engage with the individuals behind the pitch-decks and ask investors exactly what they are seeking. Through curated events, we bring the right founders and funders together at the right time. For founders just starting out, we can offer investment readiness support. And we proactively collaborate with partners to strengthen Lancashire’s wider innovation ecosystem.