Centre for Secure Information Technologies

The Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) is a new innovation and knowledge centre and is based at Queen’s University of Belfast’s, Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT) in the Northern Ireland Science Park, Belfast. With the total funding in the region of £30M over five years and opening in early 2009, CSIT will create the security infrastructure needed to safeguard the trustworthiness of information stored electronically, both at home and in the workplace.

The Centre will bring together research specialists in complementary fields such as data encryption, network security systems, wireless enabled security systems and intelligent surveillance technology. CSIT will develop secure solutions to a number of particularly modern problems including the protection of mobile phone networks, guaranteeing privacy over unsecure networks for connected healthcare and the creation of secure ‘corridors’ for the seamless and rapid transit of people, thus getting around the need for conventional security at airports. Researchers will also explore the development of powerful computer processors, capable of detecting and filtering viruses and worms to protect mass information databases like financial records from malicious attack and to facilitate high definition video streaming services.

Figure 1 below describes the areas of application and technology focus for CSIT. One of the key differentiators for CSIT is the multi-disciplinary and system integration aspect of the centre. It is only by integrating some of the different technology ‘pillars’ outlined below, that creative and appropriate solutions to complex real world problems can be delivered.

All of the research and development will be performed in the context of a strong link to market opportunities. Over 20 industrial partners, large global players as well as local SMEs, have already committed to supporting the centre with the provision of £7M over the five year period. A major remit of the centre will be the focus on research commercialisation. This will be in the form of licensing deals, spin-out companies and knowledge transfer partnership programmes. CSIT will work closely with the University business school and the entrepreneurial community to facilitate an environment that will foster innovation and entrepreneurship and ensure wider economic benefit.

In conclusion, CSIT will not only be a UK, but also an international research centre, that will lead the way in solving some of the real world security challenges of the future.