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
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 Telefónica Open Future , in collaboration with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and GCHQ , the UK’s 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 £1.9bn National Cyber Security Programme .
The accelerator is part of government efforts to boost the UK’s £22bn cyber security sector, which currently contributes around £2bn 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.
