Outline of United Kingdom with the North West England region highlighted

NW Cybercom

Unlocking the cyber security potential of the North West

£1.2m initiative

14 projects funded

Six participating universities

The £1.2m North West Cyber Security Connect for Commercialisation (NW CyberCom) project was a collaborative effort between the universities of Lancaster, Manchester, Salford, Liverpool, Manchester Metropolitan University, and the University of Central Lancashire, which aimed to unlock the cyber security potential of the North West.

As part of this, Plexal was co-leading delivery of the NW CyberCom: Commercialisation Sandpit alongside Lancaster University, with support from the partner universities.

The project sought individuals from all backgrounds to bring their diverse ideas, approaches and research to the table to tackle some of the most important cyber security challenges facing the North West region and the UK at large.

It provided a unique opportunity for academics be part of a high-profile programme which provided coaching, up to £25,000 per project in funding and collaboration opportunities to evolve from idea to a product-in-the-making as both confidence and concept grew.

Participants connected to leaders in industry to learn about real-world cyber challenges – and how their research can be part of the solution.

As a result, participants got to try activities outside of their comfort zone, collaborating and testing ideas that can be commercialised with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Any questions? Contact the team on nwcybercom@lancaster.ac.uk.

The challenges

COHORT ONE

Ethical AI & quantum for cyber security

Emerging technology areas, such as AI and quantum, are impacting the future of cyber security and enabling new approaches for industry to process, secure and analyse data. This can create greater efficiencies and reduce burden on employees.

However, technologies such as AI and quantum also present a new cyber security threat: the ability to generate convincing information and data, which may not be accurate or validated, as well as a new threat to established security protocols. Industry will need to leverage cutting-edge research to employ novel solutions to mitigate these risks.

Cohort one looked for ideas to utilise research which innovatively addresses either (or both) of the following key questions:

1. How can you use ethical AI to automate decision making reducing ‘cognitive load’ in a cyber secure way?

2. How can you use AI or quantum to ensure data authenticity and/or assure confidential data sharing?  

COHORT TWO

Cyber security in manufacturing and healthcare

Our second set of projects tackled urgent cyber security concerns in manufacturing and healthcare, focusing on the following challenge statements:

3. How can operational technology (OT) and the industrial internet of things (IIoT) be secured in manufacturing?

4. How can healthcare organisations embrace digital transformation securely- minimising disruptions, protecting sensitive data and improving resilience and recovery? Alternatively, how can internet-connected health devices be secured or designed with security at their core?

These projects explore innovative solutions to safeguard critical infrastructure, ensuring cyber security remains a priority in rapidly evolving industries.

Collage of 4 images of landmarks from the North West of England

Discover the NW Cybercom Projects

INSIGHTS FROM NW CYBERCOM

Plexal was commissioned to deliver a report into the opportunities for commercialising academic research. There is a growing culture of commercialisation and entrepreneurship within academia with some notable success stories and initiatives – but there remain barriers around funding, dedicated time to commit to spinout generation and ensuring product market fit.

We engaged industry stakeholders to validate our approach, receiving strong positive feedback— especially from those concerned about rising cyber threats in manufacturing.
NW CyberCom deepened our understanding of integrating AI and cybersecurity in manufacturing, highlighting the need for models that are both accurate and resilient to adversarial attacks. Collaboration between cyber experts and industry was key to addressing real-world challenges.

University of Salford

Academically, it highlights the importance of applying research in real-world contexts and
understanding the needs of end users—especially military personnel working with high-stakes
data. The key lesson: successful ech adoption requires flexible, tailored solutions that adapt to
evolving operational demands.

Manchester Metropolitan University

Collaboration with experts in quantum tech and cyber security was key to developing innovative solutions. Early and ongoing engagement with industry stakeholders helped align our research with real-world needs. NW CyberCom played a vital role in advancing the project to proof-of-concept. Support from the Innovator in Residence boosted confidence in achieving product-market fit and commercial viability.