Cyber Runway, the largest cyber accelerator in the UK, is back and bigger than ever. The entrepreneurship support programme returns for its fifth edition as part of the Cyber Growth Action Plan – a component of the wider Plan for Change.
Cyber Runway is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and delivered by Plexal. In alignment with the Plan for Change, the overall goal of our programme is to drive innovation, create high-quality jobs and secure long-term economic resilience, all of which are areas we specialise in.
This iteration of Cyber Runway evolves from its traditional streams – such as Grow and Ignite – with new offerings designed to drive scaling, regional expansion, net zero innovation and critical national infrastructure resilience.
An overview of the Cyber Runway streams in full:
- Grow: For startups and SMEs to lay the foundations for growth, benefitting from connections, mentors, community and expert advice to develop solutions that secure the UK’s frontier technologies. Apply before Friday 17th October.
- Scale X: For scaleups to blast away the barriers to the next stage of rapid growth through 1:1 advice and practical support, building a network of founders, VCs and CISOs. Apply before Friday 17th October.
- Ignite: For founders and CEOs to develop as leaders and scale their businesses, receiving a highly tailored package including mentorship, leadership coaching, a founders’ retreat, international exposure and connections to industry and investors. Apply before Friday 17th October.
- CNI: For cyber SMEs and industry fellows from critical national infrastructure (CNI) organisations to come together and strengthen UK CNI against evolving cyber threats. We’ll bridge the gap between cutting-edge UK cyber innovation and the urgent security needs of CNI sectors such as energy, water, telecoms, transportation and data centres. Apply before Friday 17th October.
- NW Net Zero: A regional programme for startups in the North West of England capable of securing organisations in sectors such as data, energy and aerospace as we work towards a greener future. Led by Plexal in partnership with Lancaster University, NW Net Zero aims to strengthen security of technologies linked to the green economy by accelerating cyber startups through collaboration with net zero leaders. You’ll become part of an ambition to cultivate a thriving regional ecosystem that secures the UK’s emerging green economy by understanding the challenges faced by industry stakeholders and co-creating solutions. Apply before Friday 24th October.
Diane Gilbert, Senior Lead of Programmes at Plexal, says: “The cyber security landscape has long evolved beyond ensuring your computer has antivirus software. Consider how prevalent digital is in our daily lives – both personal and professional – and suddenly it’s clear how vast the ‘cyber’ realm is and where and why protection is needed. While risks such as ransomware and phishing persist, new technologies such as AI also pose threats with techniques such as deepfakes and automation, all of which requires fresh thinking and new solutions.
“For this reason, we’re delighted to partner with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to deliver the fifth edition of Cyber Runway. In keeping with growing online threats, we’ve enhanced the programme to create more opportunities for cyber innovation. This will see development of tools for traditional SMEs across the UK, while our engagement with net zero and CNI organisations will work to create protection for every level of enterprise.”
Applications for Cyber Runway are now open and will close between Friday 17th October and Friday 24th October.
