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CYBERCAT is launched, an interuniversity research centre for computer security and data privacy

  Foto: École polytechnique - J.Barande

Photo: École polytechnique - J.Barande

08/05/2018
CYBERCAT brings together over a hundred researchers and seven research groups from six Catalan universities, coordinated by Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Cybersecurity is a prime concern for modern society. Our communication and information systems – whose failure would bring life practically to a standstill – are essential to us. In recent years computer attacks and thefts of personal data have been growing by the day and companies are fully aware that security is critical for their reputation. As a result, the number of jobs and the demand for experts in this field are growing.

This is the context that gives rise to CYBERCAT, the Center for Cybersecurity Research of Catalonia[1] . This interuniversity research centre involves six universities – Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), University of Lleida (UdL), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) – and is coordinated by the URV. It brings together over a hundred researchers from Catalan research groups working in information security and privacy technologies, Catalonia’s leading experts in this field.

CYBERCAT is Catalonia’s first research centre to pool the efforts of all Catalan groups that investigate security and privacy. With a general ambition of becoming a leading light for research both at home and abroad, its specific objectives are to obtain funding for research, enhance the media profile of work in this field, and serve as a link between industry and government. It also hopes to establish and escalate collaboration between doctoral programs, and to reinforce and extend high-level training in these areas, thus consolidating and strengthening existing research relationships between the participant universities.

Intensifying joint work

The researchers from these research groups already cooperate on work such as co-authored scientific articles, multilateral research projects and co-supervising theses, but the creation of CYBERCAT will now enhance these relationships. Examples of the initiatives currently underway include projects on smart cities, which are mainly related to traffic mobility and citizen participation. Also important is the work on cryptography and data anonymization, aiming to create technologies that meet the requirements of Europe’s new General Data Protection Regulation, which comes into force at the end of May.

There are two ideas that are central to CYBERCAT’s approach: first, to minimize the information that is collected from users, reconciling security and privacy; and second, to design security protocols that are beneficial for all parties (co-utility), thereby disincentivizing participant deviation.

The UOC’s role in CYBERCAT

David Megías, Director of the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3) and leader of the KISON research group, emphasized the importance of this joining of forces: “At KISON we have over 15 years’ experience researching information security and privacy, which has earned us officially consolidated status. We’ve been one of the groups promoting the creation of Cybercat in the wake of the good results obtained in joint research projects (eg the ARES Consolider project with involvement from the UOC, the URV and the UPC) and in interuniversity teaching programs in the field of ICT security (ie the Master's degree in ICT security offered by the UOC, the UAB and the URV). Being a part of CYBERCAT is recognition of the group’s experience. At the same time it is a platform that will improve our wider profile. And it will benefit the group when competing for funding from networks of excellence and for involvement in internationally coordinated projects.”

The research groups behind CYBERCAT

CYBERCAT, coordinated by the CRISES research group (URV), is a collaboration involving the following research groups:

  • KISON based at the IN3 Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (UOC)
  • ISG (UPC)
  • MAK (UPC)
  • C&G (UdL)
  • SENDA (UAB)
  • WICOM (UPF)

Keep an eye on our website for updates at http://cybercat.eu and http://cybercat.cat.