As connected global hubs and open economies, cybersecurity is of great importance to the UK and Singapore. Recognising the importance of collaboration in this area, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cybersecurity was signed by the UK’s Cabinet Office and Singapore’s Cybersecurity Agency during Prime Minster David Cameron’s visit to Singapore in July 2015. This joint research programme implements the joint R&D collaboration element of the MoU and has been welcomed by both governments.
Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General Matt Hancock, said: “The research partnership between British and Singaporean universities will help both of our countries keep pace with the evolving cyber threat. I have no doubt that these projects will produce ground-breaking cyber security research and help protect us from threats online.”
The Singapore-UK joint grant call seeks to strengthen knowledge and capabilities in cybersecurity and foster closer collaboration in cybersecurity research between the researchers of both countries. The grant call closed in July 2015 with a total of 22 proposals received. All submitted proposals were evaluated jointly by cybersecurity experts of both countries.
The projects that will be funded under this programme are:
- The University of Oxford and the National University of Singapore will work on Security and Privacy in Smart Grid Systems: Countermeasure and Formal Verification
- The University of Kent will work with the National University of Singapore on Vulnerability Discovery using Abduction and Interpolation
- The University of Surrey and Singapore Management University will work on Computational Modelling and Automatic Non-intrusive Detection Of Human Behaviour-based Insecurity
- Imperial College and the National University of Singapore will work on Machine Learning, Robust Optimisation, and Verification: Creating Synergistic Capabilities in Cybersecurity Research
- Imperial College and Singapore University of Technology and Design will work on Security by Design for Interconnected Critical Infrastructures
- The University of Southampton and Nanyang Technological University will develop cybersecurity solutions for smart traffic control systems.
