Every waking day there are constant efforts to minimize cyber threats as well as improve the efficiency of cybersecurity. The U.S. Department of Energy recently revealed one of such approaches.
The U.S. Department of Energy has selected the University of Texas-San Antonio (USTA) to receive a five-year $70 million cooperative agreement; to establish and lead the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManll). The U.S. Department of Energy picked the University due to its profound knowledge of cybersecurity and national connectivity.
The UT systems are showing a commitment with $10million, and partners of the University will cater for cost-sharing funds with an additional $41 million; bringing the total investment money to $111 million.
The CyManII’s focus, aim and objectives is to ensure cover specific areas in need of support.
Its focus will be centred mainly around three areas where research and development will be of immense help to U.S. developers. These three areas are; securing automation, securing the supply chain network and building a national program for education and workforce development.
Among its research objectives emphasis is being placed on; understanding the ever-evolving cybersecurity threats to greater energy efficiency in manufacturing industries and producing new cybersecurity technologies; methods and sharing information with the broader community of U.S. manufacturers.
CyManII aims to revolutionize cybersecurity in manufacturing by building a secure architecture that is standard and brings about energy efficiency. “The latter aspect of this industry-driven approach is essential because it allows manufacturers of all sizes to invest in cybersecurity and achieve an energy return on investment rather than continually spending money on cyber patches.”
These efforts will result in a suite of methods; standards and tools rooted in the concept that everything in the manufacturing supply chain has a unique, authentic identity. These solutions will address the comprehensive landscape of complex vulnerabilities and be economically implemented in a wide array of machines and environments.
In response to the investment by the Department of Energy (DOE),
the chief executive officer of CyManII and associate vice provost for institutional initiatives at UTSA, Howard Grimes, had this to say; “UTSA has assembled a team of best-in-class national laboratories, industry, nonprofit and academic organizations to cybersecure the U.S. manufacturing enterprise. Together, we will share the mission to protect the nation’s supply chains, preserve its critical infrastructure and boost its economy.”
The president of UTSA, Taylor Eighmy, said;”CyManII leverages the unique research capabilities of the Idaho, Oak Ridge and Sandia National Laboratories, as well as, critical expertise across our partner cyber manufacturing ecosystem. We look forward to formalizing our partnership with the DOE to advance cybersecurity in energy-efficient manufacturing for the nation.”
The chancellor of UT system, James Milliken has shown cooperativeness and support for the collaboration. He said, “on behalf of The University of Texas System Board of Regents, UTSA and UT System are grateful to the U.S. Department of Energy for selecting us to lead this significant national effort in cybersecurity and manufacturing.”
He also said the University could count on the full support of the UT systems as they work together to make this research a success.
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