Cybersecurity Developments in Lower Saxony: Significant Contribution of CISPA
## Strengthening Lower Saxony's Cybersecurity with CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security
In a significant move to bolster cybersecurity defences, the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security is teaming up with Leibniz University Hannover. This alliance aims to fortify protection against cyber attacks for companies, critical infrastructures, and state institutions in Lower Saxony and beyond.
The new centre, known as the "Leibniz Center for Industrial Security," will focus on current and future threat scenarios, taking an interdisciplinary approach that considers technological, organisational, and human factors. From hardware and network security to AI-assisted attack detection, and the behaviour of users and developers, the centre will utilise CISPA's scientific expertise in industrial IT security.
The funding for this initiative comes from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and the Volkswagen Foundation as part of the zukunft.niedersachsen program. A total of 147.5 million euros has been allocated for innovative projects in various fields, with the Leibniz Center for Industrial Security being a significant part of this investment. In addition, CISPA will receive an extra 11 million euros for its efforts.
CISPA, a national large-scale research institution within the Helmholtz Association, is renowned for its investigations into information security in all its aspects. The centre holds a global leading position in the field of cybersecurity, combining cutting-edge, often disruptive foundational research with innovative applied research, appropriate technology transfer, and societal discourse.
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Backes, Founding Director and CEO of CISPA, emphasises the importance of IT security as a basic prerequisite for innovation, competitiveness, and societal stability. He believes that the new centre will play a pivotal role in achieving these goals.
Prof. Dr. Sascha Fahl, a leading scientist at the CISPA site in Hannover, explains that the new centre aims to create a platform for universities, businesses, and authorities to learn, research, and act together - from prevention to crisis management.
CISPA is widely recognised internationally as a talent pipeline for the next generation of cybersecurity experts and scientific leaders in this field. With this new centre, Lower Saxony is poised to elevate research, education, and excellence-driven technology transfer to a new level, contributing to a more secure digital future for its citizens and industries.
The collaboration between CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security and Leibniz University Hannover is aimed at utilising CISPA's scientific expertise in industrial IT security to foster a new Leibniz Center for Industrial Security focusing on current and future threat scenarios encompassing technology, organization, and human factors. In the realm of cybersecurity, this center will leverage technology to address hardware and network security, AI-assisted attack detection, user behavior, and developer practices.
