Up to $4 million in funding awarded to seven companies to build cybersecurity resilience at CyberCall 2023
The CyberSG Talent, Innovation and Growth (TIG) Collaboration Center (The Center) launched CyberCall 2024 (November Edition) at Cybersecurity Innovation Day 2024 held today at the Pan Pacific Hotel. The launch of CyberCall 2024 (November Edition) was announced by Mr David Koh, Director General of the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA).
First launched in 2018 by the CSA, the CyberCall initiative helps catalyze the development of innovative cybersecurity solutions. It aims to improve the cyber resilience of organizations and provide cybersecurity companies with the opportunity to offer cutting-edge solutions. Each selected solution that meets the eligibility criteria can receive funding of up to S$1,000,000 under the CSA Cybersecurity Co-Innovation and Development Fund (CCDF).
CyberCall 2024 call for proposals
Starting in 2024, CyberCall is held twice a year, with the first edition launching in June 2024. Today’s launch marks the second edition of CyberCall organized by the Centre, a joint initiative between the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the CSA. The Centre, which officially opened in July 2024, aims to establish Singapore as the world’s leading cybersecurity innovation hub by boosting talent, innovation and growth programmes.
CyberCall consists of two categories: the Open Call category and the User Driven category.
Open call category: The CyberCall 2024 (November edition) open call category solicits proposals in these priority areas: Cybersecurity for artificial intelligence (AI); Using AI for cybersecurity; Quantum safe; Operational Technology (OT) or Internet of Things (IoT) security; Cloud security; and privacy-enhancing technologies (PET).
Please refer to Appendix A for more information.
User-Driven Challenge Statements: Additionally, companies are invited to respond to user challenge statements provided by YTL PowerSeraya and Panasonic company end users. The aim is to leverage the latest AI technologies to improve the effectiveness of cybersecurity solutions in OT-enabled sectors such as manufacturing and energy.
The challenge statements are:
• Develop an AI module that seamlessly merges with current Privileged Access Management (PAM) systems, enabling the scrutiny of PAM session recordings to identify irregularities in user behavior. Analyzing screen recordings is now done manually, and therefore tedious and time-consuming.
• Use AI to verify data sensitivity based on context, as opposed to predefined rules, through the use of data security incident management which requires a tool that autonomously identifies and protects data and instantaneous.
• Integrate generative AI into cybersecurity incident management in OT/IoT by developing a cybersecurity incident response utility using generative AI to synthesize incident details, perform impact assessment, propose remediation strategies and compile a summary of the report.
The submission deadline is January 10, 2025 and more information about CyberCall, including the latest challenge statements, is available at https://cybercall.sg.
Seven proposals selected during CyberCall 2023
At today’s event, the Center also announced the results of CyberCall 2023. Companies from Singapore and countries including New Zealand and the United Kingdom submitted proposals, and seven cybersecurity companies received a total funding of S$4 million. This follows a rigorous evaluation process which involves assessment by a panel of experts based on criteria such as the quality of the proposed solution, its applicability and wider benefits, as well as the competence of the team .
These proposals targeted cybersecurity in emerging technologies such as AI, quantum security, cloud security and IoT security. Please refer to Appendix B for more information and the full list of winners.
Quotes from Mr. Christopher Chen, Executive Director of the Center, and the CyberCall 2023 winners can be found in
Appendix C.
About the CyberSG Talent, Innovation and Growth (TIG) collaboration center
The CyberSG TIG Collaboration Centre, established by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) in partnership with the National University of Singapore (NUS), will play a key role in achieving a comprehensive approach to the development of ecosystem that consolidates and enhances CSA’s existing talents and skills. innovation initiatives.
The Center will enable synergies between cybersecurity talent, innovation and growing industry, serving as a national node to integrate and create relevant programs for industry and talent development. It will help create a vibrant cybersecurity ecosystem by bringing together industry, academic, individual and government stakeholders to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalization.
For more information about the Center, please visit https://tig.cybersg.sg.
About the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA)
Established in 2015, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) seeks to ensure the security of Singapore’s cyberspace to support the security of our nation, power a digital economy and protect our digital way of life. It monitors national cybersecurity functions and works with industry leaders to protect Singapore’s critical information infrastructure. CSA also engages with various stakeholders to increase cybersecurity awareness, build a vibrant cybersecurity ecosystem supported by a strong workforce, pursue international partnerships, and lead regional cybersecurity capacity building programs .
The CSA is part of the Prime Minister’s Office and is managed by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information. For more news and information, please visit www.csa.gov.sg.
About the National University of Singapore (NUS)
The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore’s flagship university, offering a holistic approach to education, research and entrepreneurship, with an emphasis on Asian perspectives and expertise. We have 16 colleges, faculties and schools across three campuses in Singapore, with more than 40,000 students from 100 countries enriching our vibrant and diverse academic community. We have also created more than 20 NUS Overseas Colleges entrepreneurial hubs around the world.
Our multidisciplinary, hands-on approach to education, research and entrepreneurship allows us to work closely with industry, governments and academia to solve critical and complex problems relevant to Asia and the world. Researchers from our faculties, research centers of excellence, corporate laboratories and more than 30 university research institutes focus on themes such as energy; environmental and urban sustainability; treatment and prevention of diseases; active aging; advanced materials; risk management and resilience of financial systems; Asian Studies; and Smart Nation capabilities such as artificial intelligence, data science, operations research and cybersecurity.
For more information about NUS, please visit nus.edu.sg.
About NUS Enterprise
NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS), plays a central role in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship at NUS and beyond. We actively promote entrepreneurship and cultivate global mindsets and talents through the synergies of experiential learning, active industry partnerships, holistic entrepreneurship support and catalytic entrepreneurship awareness. Our global initiatives and connections support a range of entrepreneurial journeys and foster the creation of ecosystems in new markets. We provide our expertise and relationships to create successful spinoff companies and translate innovations to market through industry collaboration. These initiatives augment and complement the University’s academic programs and provide a unique bridge to industries far beyond Singapore’s shores.
For more information about NUS Enterprise, please visit https://enterprise.nus.edu.sg.
