Imperial College London's Centre for Sectoral Economic Performance will support the University of Bristol to develop a Cyber Growth Action Plan.
This plan will set out recommendations for the Government to support the growth of the UK cyber security sector, ensuring our economic security and resilience.
The Cyber Growth Action Plan is an independent, expert-led effort to assess the UK's cyber capabilities and identify strategic opportunities for expansion. The initiative is part of the government's broader refresh of the National Cyber Strategy, expected to be unveiled later this year.
Professor Chris Hankin, a leading figure in cyber security from Imperial's Department of Computing will work with colleagues from Bristol including Professor Simon Shiu. The leadership team also includes experts from the Centre for Sectoral Economic Performance at Imperial and Bristol's Digital Futures Institute. The plan will focus on four key workstreams:
- Sectoral Analysis – Deepening insights into the UK's cyber sector, which in 2024 generated £13.2 billion in revenue and supported over 67,000 jobs.
- Strategy Alignment – Exploring how the sector can leverage its role in the UK's Industrial Strategy and upcoming legislation like the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill.
- Future Technologies and Societal Trends – Anticipating how emerging technologies and societal shifts will reshape the cyber landscape.
- Building on Strengths – Enhancing collaboration across academia, industry, and government to drive innovation and growth.
Professor Nigel Brandon, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Imperial, said: "This is an important moment to take stock of the UK's cyber capabilities and consider how we can build on them. The Centre for Sectoral Economic Performance is uniquely placed to work with DSIT and colleagues across academia and industry, bringing together a wide range of perspectives to understand the cyber sector's challenges and opportunities ahead."
The Growth Plan will culminate in a set of recommendations to be delivered later this summer, offering a roadmap for government action to ensure the UK remains a global leader in cyber security.
