Applications open for free ten-week cybersecurity R&D program delivered by CSIRO

The nation’s science agency, CSIRO, is welcoming SME businesses focussing on cybersecurity and digital technologies to apply for its free, ten-week Innovate to Grow program.

According to a statement on Monday, the online program will  connect between 20 and 25 successful applicants with “knowledge, resources and mentors to advance their project or ideas” with possible “continued support through CSIRO, being connected to national research expertise and/or dollar-matched R&D funding” to progress their work.

The program is open to companies working in cyber security or digital technology in the following sub-sectors:

• Cyber security – AR/VR/XR
• Cybersecurity – Digital identity
• Cybersecurity – Digital manufacturing
• Cybersecurity – Digital Twins
• Artificial intelligence/machine learning
• Robotics and autonomous systems
• ChatGPT/ Large language models

Citing the rise in generative AI, Data61 Research Director for Software and Computational Systems Dr Liming Zhu said companies were currently able to tap into a wealth of new opportunities, but there were also new cyber risk and digital trust issues.

“This is a new territory, which is still evolving,” said Zhu.

“Our aim with programs like this is to assist companies who are building solutions to these problems.”

The course begins on June 8 with expressions of interest being accepted until May 15. More information is available here.

Picture credit: Australian Signals Directorate