The first group of companies has completed a government-led cyber accelerator programme aimed at helping UK startups take the lead in producing the next generation of cyber security systems, with another round to be announced in 2017<\/b>
Seven cyber security startups have graduated from the first UK government-led accelerator programme to boost initial sales and business development and secure follow-on third-party investment.
The accelerator facility was run by Wayra UK , part of Telef\u00f3nica Open Future , in collaboration with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and GCHQ , the UK\u2019s signals intelligence and cyber security agency.
The UK government announced the partnership with tech startups to develop cutting-edge, world-leading cyber security technology in September 2016 as part of the \u00a31.9bn National Cyber Security Programme .
The accelerator is part of government efforts to boost the UK\u2019s \u00a322bn cyber security sector, which currently contributes around \u00a32bn a year in exports to the UK economy. It is also the first step in delivering the Cheltenham Innovation Centre, the first of two planned innovation centres, with a second innovation centre set to open in London later in 2017.
Participants in the three-month accelerator programme received support to help them scale all aspects of their businesses, including high-quality mentoring and business services, office space and access to GCHQ and Telef\u00f3nica\u2019s world-class personnel and technical expertise.
Results include security contracts with government agencies and projects with major corporations, as well as developing products and embarking on funding rounds.
The entrepreneurs will also have the opportunity to pitch their startups to an audience of stakeholders and leading investors.
GCHQ, DCMS and Wayra UK have announced that later in 2017, they intend to issue a call for cyber startups to join the accelerator for an extended version of the programme.
Digital minister Matt Hancock said the cyber accelerator is helping to deliver the aim of creating a world-leading digital economy by supporting entrepreneurs and innovators as they turn great ideas into cyber security products and services. \u201cI congratulate all those who have taken part in the first programme and contributed to its success,\u201d he said.
Gary Stewart, director at Wayra UK, said the programme has been a textbook exercise in how to accelerate companies extremely quickly.
\u201cWe\u2019ve been able to take our strengths and marry them to GCHQ\u2019s world-leading cyber expertise, creating a perfect petri dish for these startups to scale,\u201d he said.
\u201cI\u2019m immensely proud that we\u2019ve been able to realise the promise of this collaboration, and enthused about moving the partnership forward in an even bigger and better way through a new call for cyber startups to join the programme.\u201d
The cyber accelerator initiative is helping to identify and develop innovative systems to meet the cyber security challenges the UK faces today, said Chris Ensor, deputy director of cyber skills and growth at GCHQ\u2019s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
\u201cI hope to see some of the companies we have worked with become household names in the future, providing things that will help keep us safe in an ever more connected world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n