| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/Y035534/1 |
| Title: |
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Open SecuRe NeTworks (CDT-FORT) |
| Principal Investigator: |
Tafazolli, Professor R |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Institute of Communications Systems |
| Organisation: |
University of Surrey |
| Scheme: |
Centre for Doctoral Training |
| Starts: |
01 April 2024 |
Ends: |
30 September 2032 |
Value (£): |
7,955,648
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Artificial Intelligence |
Networks & Distributed Systems |
| RF & Microwave Technology |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Communications |
Information Technologies |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Future communication networks are set to become even more advanced and complex with the development of 6G and beyond. These systems are expected to be open, secure, and resilient, which is in line with the UK ecosystem of vendors diversification strategy. The future Network of Networks (NoN) will bring together various networks to help bridge the digital divide and contribute, directly and indirectly, towards achieving the UK's goal of NetZero .
The 2022 National Cyber Strategy outlines the need to 'ensure ... the next generation of connected technologies are designed, developed and deployed with security and resilience in mind and as part of a concerted effort to embrace a 'secure by design' approach'. Future networks will underpin Critical National Infrastructure in various sectors as they go through digital transformation, gradually becoming a NoN that integrates space and terrestrial networks that, in addition to mobile broadband, will deliver sensing, timing and positioning information. Due to the unprecedented complexity of NoN, new solutions that take advantage of AI/machine learning solutions are needed. Currently, there are insufficient people with the skills and experience to address these challenges.
Alongside the demand for these skills from our industry partners, the Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (CSEC) provides security evaluation to the UK government for a range of products used in the UK telecommunications market and in their most recent report (2021), NCSC stated that it is critical to recruit appropriate technical cyber security specialists and with demand outstripping supply, they were likely to see hiring challenges. The £80M DSIT-funded UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL) recently established to boost the security, resilience and performance of the UK's telecommunication networks, will also be looking to the CDT-FORT to help address its recruitment pipeline. Given the numbers of people required, cohort training is particularly beneficial in this context. As well as being the most efficient way to upskill a significant number of individuals simultaneously, it offers opportunities for team-working and peer-to-peer learning. Further, it creates a network of professionals that will persist when the individuals graduate.
The CDT-FORT will create a community of industry-conscious thinkers and leaders with a unique range of expertise across wireless communications, cybersecurity, networking and AI. They will be familiar with different networks; mobile terrestrial, WiFi, satellite networks UAV /HAPS and so on. The cohort will be able to gain practical experience of the end-to-end NoN system by combining their theoretical research with computer simulations and the unique testbed that connects the two Institutes through the EPSRC National Dark Fibre Facility (NDFF). This will offer unprecedented experience and learning to the graduates of CDT-FORT. In addition to conducting doctoral research, the cohort will broaden their technical knowledge through specialist modules alongside important topics such as trusted and responsible research and innovation, standardisation, IPR and regulation/policy. Their interpersonal, communication and leadership skills will be developed through a range of personal and group activities so that they are equipped for a career in either industry or academia. Graduates from the centre will be capable of solving complex challenges of delivering future communication systems and leading innovations to address those challenges, ensuring that the networks are secure by design. To deliver this vision FORT will be jointly hosted by the University of Surrey and Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and will bring together the 5/6G Innovation Centre at Surrey (a UKRI World Class Lab), the Surrey Centre for Cyber Security and QUB's Centre for Secure Information Technologies (both NCSC-accredited Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Research and Education).
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.surrey.ac.uk |