Funding announced for new UK internet of things universities hub

Nine UK universities will contribute to a range of research projects focused on five main themes, those being privacy and trust, safety and security, harnessing economic value, standards governance and policy and adoption and acceptability.

The research will be conducted over the next three years. UCL, Imperial College London, University of Oxford, University of Warwick, Lancaster University, University of Southampton, University of Surrey, University of Edinburgh and Cardiff University will collaborate on the work.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has provided £9.8 million in funding for the research initiative, with additional funding from businesses and public sector partners involved in the project taking the total funding up to approximately £23m.

"In the not too distant future almost all of our daily lives will be connected, in one way or another, to the digital world," professor Philip Nelson, EPSRC chief executive, said. "Physical objects and devices will be able to interact with each other, ourselves, and the wider virtual world. But, before this can happen, there must be trust and confidence in how the internet of things works, its security and its resilience. By harnessing our world-leading research excellence this PETRAS research hub will accelerate IoT technology innovation and bring benefit to society and business."

The EPSRC said that 17 initial research projects have been identified and "include large scale experiments at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park; the cybersecurity of low power body sensors and implants; understanding how individuals and companies can increase IoT security through better day-to-day practices; and ensuring that connected smart meters are not a threat to home security".

The EPSRC said that the "outputs" from the IoT research will help with "evidenced based policymaking in the UK".

"Hub members aim to influence standards that facilitate interoperability and opening to new market entrants and inform policy options that are responsive to technological change whilst balancing potential benefits and harms," it said.