Benedict College and Integer Technologies secure £6.1 million ONR contract for cyber resilience
Photo credit: Terrell Maxwell.
Benedict College and Integer Technologies have been awarded a £6.1 million contract by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in Columbia, USA to enhance cyber resilience for autonomous systems and bolster the workforce supporting the defence research enterprise.
The programme, titled "Resilient Autonomous Systems and Workforce Diversity," has two main components. The first is focused on researching automated cyber-physical security to bolster the resilience of intelligent autonomous systems (IAS) against cyberattacks.
Integer Technologies’ CEO Duke Hartman pointed out the practical significance of securing autonomous vehicles:
“Autonomous vehicles are no longer science fiction. They are on the road, in the air, and in the sea, impacting our lives today.
“While they have the potential to benefit society greatly, hackers are increasingly targeting them, and we need to invest in ensuring they are safe and secure against cyberattacks.”
The second component is designed to enhance Benedict College's STEM curriculum and defence research capacity, fostering a highly skilled technical workforce to meet the specialised needs of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
Dr. Thomas C. Fu, head of ONR’s Sea Warfare and Weapons Department, emphasised the dual benefits of the programme:
“ONR is proud to sponsor research on a unique opportunity like this that both enhances our cyber resilience and the diversity of our defence workforce.
“Investing in research and workforce development at HBCUs is a priority for us to advance our national security objectives with a broad pipeline of highly trained, highly skilled men and women.”
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are crucial in producing STEM graduates, many of whom are U.S. citizens—a key requirement for DoD projects.
The contract will also fund the creation of a master's degree programme in computer science and engineering at Benedict College. This will be the first graduate engineering degree of its kind at an HBCU in South Carolina, USA, aiming to provide students with advanced educational opportunities in contemporary engineering fields.
Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College, highlighted the college’s strategic investments in STEM:
“Benedict College has been strategically investing in STEM and our research capacity for years, and this award is a result of that effort. As we will demonstrate in this work, HBCUs have an important contribution to make to America’s national security and workforce.”
Godwin E. Mbamalu, Associate Vice President for Research at Benedict College, noted the programme’s role in real-world training:
“This programme will enable Benedict College to increase our research capacity by recruiting highly skilled faculty for research and teaching in contemporary engineering disciplines. It will provide our students with real-world experience to help launch them into great careers in the defence industry and other STEM fields.”
