The Cyber Security Research and Networking Environment (CRANE) NetworkPlus, led by the University of Oxford, is supported by a £6m investment from the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EPSRC).

The UK is the third most targeted country in the world for cyber-attacks. This investment will create new insights into how to achieve security by design and default.

The goal is to drive better cybersecurity across the economy, including sectors from manufacturing and healthcare to law enforcement. This will make businesses, charities, communities, and people more resilient against cyber-threats.

The network will provide leadership in spotting emerging global trends and national strengths in cybersecurity, including understanding the potential of game-changing technologies from AI to quantum computing.

The network aims to strengthen collaboration, knowledge exchange and skills across the sector to ensure the UK maintains its position as a leader in cybersecurity research and innovation.

It is set to establish the first learned society for cybersecurity research, bringing together researchers from across disciplines to focus on topics and nurture relationships that will turn into research collaborations.

The new society will provide UK businesses, government and the voluntary, charity, and community sectors with a key connection point to access experts nationally and internationally.

“Since taking office we’ve made shoring up our cyber defences a national priority,” minister for cybersecurity, Feryal Clark, said.

“To make sure they’re stronger than ever, we’ll be bringing in new laws next year as we continue to take steps to ensure our online economy and critical services are safe, resilient and secure.

“This network will bolster those efforts, building up a better picture of where our strengths lie and where the gaps we need to plug are, all while supporting our expert cybersecurity workforce to drive forward their careers and become the UK’s cyber leaders of tomorrow.”

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The network was created to address the aims of the UKRI Building a Secure and Resilient World strategic theme which highlights the importance of enhancing national security across virtual and physical spaces by improving the awareness or risks and threats, preparedness and decision-making and responses.

With investment delivered in close collaboration with the NCSC, the network also aims to contribute to the government’s work to develop the UK cyber ecosystem, ensure technology is safely developed and deployed, and help drive growth and skills across the country.

It plans on supporting career development through events, special interest groups, regional activities, research grants, and through promoting diversity and inclusion through equality of opportunity.