Startups in the UK have been invited to apply for a government initiative to strengthen protections for intellectual property (IP) from external threats, ranging from larger competitors to hostile states.
The Secure Innovation Security Review scheme will provide funding and support from security experts to an initial target of 500 startups in critical technological fields such as AI, semiconductors, life sciences and renewable energy.
The government has warned that the threat of hostile actors infiltrating advanced technology businesses in the UK has become “more advanced”, while protections remain largely stagnant.
According to figures from the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), 39% of companies have only one protective security or cyber measure in place and 55% do not conduct pre-employment screening of new personnel.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and they need security to thrive,” said Security Minister Dan Jarvis.
“This initiative supports businesses to build the skills and the confidence they need to grow.”
Site visits will be conducted as part of the reviews to measure security levels against frameworks developed by the NPSA, part of MI5 and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ.
These will result in bespoke security reports that will provide improvement recommendations, followed by an additional visit six months later to measure progress.
The scheme will be managed via Innovate UK, which will contribute £2,500 toward each participating business.
“If these innovators can protect valuable intellectual property and their competitive edge and demonstrate their commitment to security to investors and customers, they will be better placed to realise their growth potential in the UK, and globally,” said Innovate UK executive director of strategy and performance Robert Shaw.
“Innovate UK is proud to be a partner in delivering Security Reviews for spinouts and start-ups in such critical sectors.”
Read more: Why UK cybersecurity has become so vulnerable
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