7-8 November 2024
The KTP Associates Conference held at London Metropolitan University in November 2024 provided an excellent platform for showcasing innovation and collaboration. During the event, Richard Lamb, Programme Manager for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) at Innovate UK, accompanied by Prof. Karim Ouazzane, Head of Research and Knowledge Exchange at the School of Computing and Digital Media, visited the Cyber Security Research Centre. The visit included an exploration of both the teaching facilities and the innovation hub.
Richard expressed his enthusiasm for the Centre, emphasizing its critical role in bridging the gap between academia and industry. He highlighted how the Centre facilitates the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and expertise, which can drive impactful research and foster an innovative culture. Additionally, he noted the importance of embedding entrepreneurial skills into students' and graduates' learning experiences, enabling them to become commercially savvy professionals. This approach not only benefits individual careers but also enhances business capabilities and contributes significantly to the UK economy.
The visit underscored the Centre’s commitment to transforming education and research into real-world impact, and London Met's growing portfolio of KTPs.
Richard said "London Metropolitan University's Cyber Security Research Centre is a vital enabler of digital security, safeguarding critical infrastructure and protecting our interconnected world, by linking world leading academics with the world’s most innovative businesses."
The Cyber Security Research Centre within the university plays a vital role in advancing the institution’s mission across teaching, research and knowledge exchange. It conducts research on emerging threats, secure system designs and mitigation strategies and it focuses on areas such as AI in cyber security, IoT security, computer vision and energy grid and collaborates with other schools (e.g. Business, law, criminology, ITS) to explore the societal, ethical and legal implications of cyber security.
The Centre also contributes towards designing and offering specialised courses in cyber security, including topics like ethical hacking, cryptography and network security and provide students with hands-on experience through labs, simulations and access to advanced tools and technologies. The Centre host conferences, seminars, workshops, hackathons and training programs to develop practical skills and collaborate with industry partners (e.g. Lloyds banking group) to align education with the needs of the cyber security job market and to nurture the entrepreneurial skills to make students and graduates work-ready. As part of the innovation ecosystem the Cyber Security Research Centre is aiming at supporting startups and spin-offs by providing access to resources, mentorship and collaborative opportunities.
Professor Ouazzane said "The Cyber Security Research Centre serves as a hub for educating future professionals, pioneering research, and bridging the gap between academia, industry, and society. Its impact extends from equipping students with skills to influencing global cyber security practices."
Chris Lane, Dean of the School of Computing and Digital Media, said "London Met's Cyber Security Research Centre is one of most vibrant examples of the University's commitment to investing in advanced skills that are relevant to industry and fire the imagination of our students. This connection between innovation and learning demonstrates the vital role that post-92 higher education institutions play in driving the key high growth sectors of the economy."
Image: Richard Lamb and Prof. Karim Ouazzane