Launch of Cyber London: a cybersecurity ecosystem for the capital and beyond • City St George's, University of London

The initiative is recognised by the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and the UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration (UKC3) as the ‘Cyber Cluster’ for London.

By Dr Shamim Quadir (Senior Communications Officer), Published Friday, 19^th July 2024

On Friday 21 June, the School of Science & Technology hosted the official launch event for ‘Cyber London’, which is recognised by Government’s Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and the UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration (UKC3) as the ‘Cyber Cluster’ for London.

Cyber Clusters are playing a vital role in supporting the growth of the cyber sector in the UK and beyond. They are uniquely positioned with regional focus and presence, and actively engage with their communities, fostering relationships on the ground.

Co-founded by Professor Raj Rajarajan, Director of Cybersecurity at the School, Cyber London is supporting and growing a cybersecurity ecosystem for the capital, with the ability to network with partner organisations both nationally and internationally.

These collaborations were reflected in the wide range of invited, expert speakers and panellists who contributed to the launch event.

They included representatives from Plexal; the UK Police’s Cybercrime Programme; the Estonian Investment Agency; the Polish Investment & Trade Agency; the Australian Trade and Investment Commission; the Ontario Trade and Investment Office (Canada); Cyber Madrid (Spain); the Centre for Cyber Security, Amrita University (India); Lloyds Banking Group; Deloitte; British Telecom; Mastercard and others.

Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein, President of City, University of London, kicked off proceedings.

A software engineer himself and previously the Chief Scientific Adviser for National Security to HM government (2015-2021), he said in part:

In the cybersecurity area, we are way behind the curve on useability, and making the capabilities which we have developed accessible to people in organisations and complex enterprises. So, there is more work to do.
However, those of you who know me will also know that I’m a techno-optimist by nature, I tend to view the opportunities positively and I’ve broadly been positive about cybersecurity.
So I thought, when it comes to using a new tool using artificial intelligence/machine learning, it’s a ‘muscle contest’ – if you have the data and the compute, on the whole you tend to win out.
So that’s generally the ‘good guys’ represented here… I assume that – as those of you wearing t-shirts have the honour of seeming a bit more dodgy – but it’s a cause for optimism.

The event also marked the launch of the new Centre for Online Safety, Safeguarding, Privacy, and Identity (COSPI), co-hosted by the School of Policy and Global Affairs and the School of Science & Technology at City.

More from the launch

Simon Newman, Co-Founder, Cyber London Cluster, discussing innovation through collaboration.
Linda Smith, Chair, UK Cyber Cluster Collaboration (UKC3), sharing the National Cyber Strategy
Professor Raj Rajarajan, Cyber London Co-Founder
Matt Rowe, CISO, Lloyds Banking Group: The Security Challenges Emerging from New Technologies
Martin Peters, Detective Superintendent, Deputy Lead NPCC National Cybercrime Programme
Daniel Lewis, Cyber Lead, Plexal: Cyber Security × Cyber-Physical Systems: The Land of Opportunity
Morning networking in the Pavilion, University Building
Panel - Cyber Security Internationalisation. Moderated by Tanya Koicheva ,Senior Business Development Manager, Australian Trade and Investment Commission – UK & Ireland
Maarja Pehk, Estonian Investment Agency
Danielle Phillips, Co-founder, Leading Cyber: The Leadership Challenge in Cyber Security
Networking outside the Oliver Thompson Lecture Theatre
The Cyber Resilience Centre for London stand (www.londoncrc.co.uk)

COSPI will be a key stakeholder for Cyber London, developing world-class research and insights on issues affecting the industry and society more widely. It is co-directed by Professor Raj Rajarajan and Professor Carrie-Anne Myers.

Professor Rajarajan shared with the audience:

Our aim is to unpack the Online Safety Act and try to see how we can get tech to support the policies.

Professor Myers added:

We have three core areas and three thematic priorities, and we look at, as Raj said, the impact of the Online Safety Act. This is where it’s really interesting as a criminologist, to unpack human behaviour and consequences of actions within the scope of a landmark piece of legislation. I gave evidence to the Law Commission when the Bill was in its inception.
[COSPI] is also about learning how we intersect across academic disciplines and how we can optimise that. We are prioritising online safety, safeguarding and cyberdigital wellness, to create digital human safety for all.

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