Minister of State for Digital and Culture, Rt. Hon. Matt Hancock MP, visited Israel this week, to promote UK-Israel relations and announce a new programme aiming to connect industry and academics to develop the next generation of cyber security technology.
Minister Hancock announced in Tel Aviv that the Academic StartUp initiative will arm academics with the expertise and support to turn cutting-edge research ideas into commercial products and fast-track British ideas to market.
During the Minister’s visit to Israel, he spoke at the reception to mark the 5th anniversary of the UK Israel Tech Hub, where he celebrated the success of the UK-Israel partnerships forged by the hub. He toured the Cyber Gym Arena with Britain’s Ambassador to Israel H.E. David Quarrey, and visited Magshimim headquarters to share ideas about cyber skills education for high school students.
At the Knesset Mr Hancock discussed cyber security, minority integration, and UK-Israel cooperation with senior Israel politicians.
Minister Hancock also went to the city of Ramla in central Israel, where he visited the Appleseeds Academy, which empowers children in the digital age.
Speaking in Israel at the country’s National Cyber Directorate, the Minister of State for Digital and Culture said: “Creating a thriving and innovative cyber security industry is all part of work to make the UK the safest place to live and do business online”.
The minister stated that the Academic StartUp programme will help turn Britain’s “world-class research into world-class products” and stimulate the development of the UK’s cyber security industry.
The scheme is funded and delivered by Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in partnership with the UK’s innovation agency Innovate UK.
The UK’s cyber security sector contributed £1.8 billion in exports to the economy last year and was worth almost £22 billion. The initiative is part of the Government’s £1.9 billion national cyber security strategy, which aims to make the UK the safest place to live and do business online and includes opening a new National Cyber Security Centre.
