This year’s summit marks a significant milestone for CSIT as it celebrates 15 years of excellence in cyber security research, innovation, and education. Over the past decade, the summit has become a premier gathering for international leaders from government, industry, and academia, providing a platform to explore and address the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the sector.

One of the key themes of this year’s event is how security challenges have evolved over the past 15 years, reflecting on the rapid changes in the threat landscape, technological advancements, and policy shifts. The emergence of advanced AI technologies has significantly impacted the cyber security landscape, providing major benefits but also introducing vulnerabilities, with the security and trustworthiness of AI now a key focus at CSIT, alongside resilient cyber-physical infrastructure and semiconductor security.

CSIT is also pleased to announce its involvement in the recently launched AI Hub for Productive Research and Innovation in Electronics (APRIL), in which it will lead on AI-enhanced security verification to deliver ‘secure-by-design’ electronic devices.

 The summit also looks ahead to the grand challenges of the future, focusing on emerging risks and the need for forward-thinking strategies to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, said:  
 
"It was a great pleasure to speak at CSIT today which is now rightly renowned as a global leader in cybersecurity research and innovation, forming part of the wider story of the truly remarkable growth in Northern Ireland's cybersecurity sector. 
 
“Northern Ireland is now the number one global destination for US foreign direct investment in cybersecurity, and there are 128 companies that have commercial or research and development cyber security teams here. 
 
“I wish CSIT well in the months and years ahead and I wish the sector in Northern Ireland every continuing success.” 

Keynote speakers Bartley Richardson, Director of Engineering at NVIDIA, and Aaron Hogan, Senior Director of Engineering at Qualcomm, will share expert insights into the role of AI in network security and the importance of device and supply chain security.

The summit focuses on key topics such as the integration of AI in security systems, emerging threat landscapes, and securing complex systems. These important discussions will inform CSIT’s research and innovation roadmap, ensuring that its work remains at the cutting edge of the field.

Professor Máire O’Neill, Director of CSIT, reflected on the significance of this year’s event:

"Our 2024 Cyber Security Summit not only highlights the urgent issues facing the industry but also celebrates 15 years of CSIT’s dedication to ground-breaking research and innovation. With contributions from experts across industry, academia, and government, the summit provides valuable insights that will help us address the future challenges of cyber security. This event continues to play a vital role in shaping our research directions and reaffirming CSIT's leadership in the field."

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Contact Helen Lappin (H.Lappin@qub.ac.uk) for further information.