The program aims to nurture the next generation of cybersecurity entrepreneurs and develop products and services to safeguard critical infrastructure

• C3iHub, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur launched the first cohort of 13 start-ups and 25 R&D Principal Investigators for Incubation and Research programs

• The cohort would be working across domains of Cyber Security Domains like UAV Security, Blockchain, Intrusion Detection and Cyber Physical System

• This would go a long way in strengthening the Cyber Security ecosystem in India

23rd July 2021, Kanpur: C3iHub, the Technology Innovation Hub on Cyber Security at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur today launched the first cohort of start-ups who will develop services and products across the critical cybersecurity domains of UAV Security, Blockchain, Intrusion Detection, and Cyber Physical System.The first cohort includes a select group of 13 start-ups and 25 R&D Principal Investigators for Incubation and Research programs respectively who were selected after a rigorous application process. The presence of cutting-edge technology in cybersecurity is accompanied by an increasing need to protect digital assets and deploy solutions for the common public as well as government and industry.

The event was graced by Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India; Prof. Sandeep Verma, Secretary, SERB; Prof. AR Harish, Dean, Research and Development, IIT Kanpur; Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Project Director, C3iHub, IIT Kanpur; Prof. Sandeep Shukla, Co-Project Director, C3iHub, IIT Kanpur; and Dr Nikhil Agarwal, CEO, C3iHub, IIT Kanpur. The honorable panelists charted a way forward for the selected cohort aiming to redefine cybersecurity with a holistic approach in India. The dynamic nature of threats and ever evolving advancements necessitates the need for dedicated centres such as C3iHub supported by an evolving ecosystem such as IIT Kanpur.

Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India said “The Government is committed to bring India to a leadership position in Cyber Security. C3iHub IIT Kanpur’s focus on safeguarding cyberspace including critical infrastructure is vital in this regard. I urge innovators and researchers to take up challenges by solving problems through technology.”

Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur shared, “We are excited to launchthe first set of start-ups cohort in cyber security. Over the next few years, C3iHub is committed to create a vibrant eco system of cyber security start-ups fostering world class innovations”.

The event brought together industry veterans and experts in the Indian cybersecurity space to commemorate the launch of the start-up and R&D cohort. The start-ups, supported by C3iHub at IIT Kanpur, will innovate to disrupt the cybersecurity space, focusing on design and development of services and products to safeguard India’s critical infrastructure. The program’s interdisciplinary focus will nurture R&D in cybersecurity and cyber physical systems across India.

Prof Manindra Agarwal noted, “C3iHub aims to develop technologies for cyber security, work with industry and nucleate start-ups to deploy them, and train a new generation of cyber security experts. Our target is to become the leading source of cybersecurity related technologies in the country.”

Dr Nikhil Agarwal, congratulating the selected cohort at C3iHub, said, “We will be incubating around 25 start-ups with a generous funding support every year. The first cohort of researchers and start-ups is a demonstration of increasing interest in cybersecurity in India”

About C3iHub ( https://c3ihub.org/ )

C3iHub has been set up to address the issue of cyber security of cyber physical systems in its entirety. From analysing security vulnerabilities and developing tools to address them at various levels of system architecture, to translating these tools to deployment ready software, to nucleating start-ups developing these tools at scale, to partnering with industries in this domain and co-development and transfer of these technologies, to train the next generation of cyber security researchers and professionals.