Government Offers Support To Cybersecurity Startups

The UK Government plans to boost the development of cybersecurity technology in the UK with a £250,000 programme that will provide advice and assistance to startups working in the field.

The ‘Early Stage Accelerator Programme’ hopes to help young companies develop, test and commercialise their ideas with advice and support in the hope that they can find investment.

It is claimed the project will help protect the UK from a cyber attack and support an industry that is worth £17.6bn to the UK – up 70 percent since 2013 – and employs more than £100,000.

Cyber security startups

Applications will open in March and the programme will be run in partnership with Cyber London and the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) at Queen’s University Belfast.

“The UK’s strong and growing digital economy is changing the way we live and work,” Culture Secretary John Whittingdale told the joint UK/US Global Cyber Security Innovation Summit.

“As technologies continue to evolve there will be an increased demand for secure products and services, and this new programme will ensure the best ideas from our brightest minds can help keep the UK safe in cyberspace. I’m delighted to announce Cyber London and CSIT Belfast as partners in running this new programme.”

The government has urged British businesses to invest more in their cyber security defences and sign up for its Cyber Essentials scheme, part of the National Cyber Security Programme, which offers protection for businesses against the most common threats on the Internet, as well as promoting awareness through advertising campaigns.

Since launching in 2011, the National Cyber Security Programme has seen £860 million of government investment to protect and promote the UK and its online businesses.