The University of Wolverhampton has been shortlisted as a finalist for this year’s The National Cyber Awards 2022 in the category of “The Cyber University of the Year”. The awards have been set up to reward those who are committed to cyber innovation, cyber crime reduction and protecting citizens online.

 

The university offers Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral programmes in cyber security and officially opened Cyber Quarter – The Midlands Centre for Cyber Security last year. The centre is a joint venture between the University of Wolverhampton and Herefordshire Council and is part-funded by the Government’s Local Growth Fund, via the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The cyber team has engaged with over 100 businesses, assisted nearly 60 SMEs to improve their cyber defences, started 30 cyber related Research & Development projects and supported over 19 new to firm or new to market products. The academic team has also helped set up 5 new cyber related spin-out companies and are leading several regional and national Cyber networks.

Professor Prashant Pillai, Centre Director Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security and Professor of Cyber Security, said: “We are delighted to have been named finalist for the second year running in these prestigious awards.

“The expertise and specialist focus of our new centre is part of a wider, growing ecosystem of cyber sector companies based within the Cyber Quarter on Skylon Park in Herefordshire. The area is already home to a highly regarded cyber economy, and the knowledge, expertise and opportunities that the centre brings along with the strong academic expertise of the university is helping to establish Herefordshire as one of the capitals of the cyber security sector.

“It’s a magnificent new Centre that brings to Hereford a brand-new research and innovation, training and incubation hub that focuses on how we can develop the cyber skills of the future with the research and innovation that many of our companies need. This is a major innovation in the area and one that will firmly put Hereford and Wolverhampton on the map in terms of cyber security.”

The winners will be announced on Monday 26 September 2022 at the awards evening at Novotel West in London. You can see the full list of finalists on the website at www.thenational cyber awards.org

Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security offers a package of tailored security testing, training, Research & Development and sector expertise to businesses and investors. Supported by the university’s cyber academic team, the centre offers product testing and certification, CPD and short courses and cyber conferences such as the recent Cyber Fringe Festival attracting experts from across the globe. 

The 2,000 square metre building provides significant resources for research and development across three cyber laboratories, advanced training facilities and additional business space for up to 16 cyber companies. The centre, which secured £2.82m of funding via the Marches LEP’s Growth Deal with Government in 2017, is part of the new Cyber Quarter at Skylon Park, already home to numerous defence and security sector businesses.

The new centre incorporates a full height glass atrium to provide a dual break-out space and function hall, alongside the main three storey building which houses business suites, innovation rooms, IT workshops and a ‘Cyber Range’ – a cutting edge facility that will defend against the global rise of hacking. Anyone interested in courses offered or businesses looking for incubation space can find out more about the Cyber Quarter – Midlands Centre for Cyber Security on the website.