September 23, 2016
A groundbreaking partnership between DCMS, GCHQ and the nation’s top tech start-ups to develop new technologies aimed at protecting the UK from cyber attacks has been announced.
Wayra UK, part of Telefónica Open Future, has been chosen to run a new cyber accelerator facility with the aim of helping UK start-ups grow and take the lead in producing the next generation of cyber security systems.
The tie-up is the first step in the development of two world-leading innovation centres as part of the Government’s £1.9bn National Cyber Security Programme.
It will see start-ups gaining access to GCHQ’s world-class personnel and technological expertise to allow them to expand capability, improve ideas and devise cutting-edge products to outpace current and emerging threats.
The facility will also fast-track new firms into the booming cyber security sector which contributed £1.8 billion in exports to the UK economy last year and grew from £17.6 billion in 2014 to almost £22 billion in 2015.