Faculty of Engineering researchers from the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute have been awarded over $1.1 million in funding from the National Cybersecurity Consortium (NCC) to advance two cybersecurity projects focused on enhancing digital security in Canada. This funding is part of the Cyber Security Innovation Network (CSIN), a national initiative funded by the Canadian government and led by NCC – a not-for-profit organization co-founded by the University of Waterloo to support cybersecurity research, training, and commercialization.
The NCC’s 2024 Call for Proposals allocated $22.8 million in total to 37 projects aimed at bolstering Canada’s cybersecurity resilience. "A resilient digital landscape is vital to the well-being and security of all Canadians,” said Dr. Charmaine Dean, NCC Board chair and vice-president, Research and International at the University of Waterloo. “This funding announcement is an important step forward in maintaining our country as a leader in cybersecurity.”
Faculty of Engineering projects awarded funding
Two Waterloo Engineering projects, led by faculty members and supported by NCC funding, focus on critical areas in cybersecurity: adaptive defense strategies in autonomous driving systems and training in robotics cybersecurity.
- Adaptive defense strategies for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS): A game-theoretic approach
Lead researchers: Dr. Seyed Majid Zahedi and Dr. Rodolfo Pellizzoni with collaboration from Dr. Mahesh Tripunitara
Funding awarded: $164,622.50
This project aims to develop adaptive defense strategies for ADAS by applying game-theoretic models to strengthen real-time response capabilities against AI-driven attacks. The team’s approach focuses on enhancing security protocols by incorporating real-time data to support adaptive policies that counter evolving threats in autonomous driving systems.
- CRAFT: Cybersecure robotics and future talent
Lead researchers: Dr. Sebastian Fischmeister and Dr. Yue Hu
Funding awarded: $1,000,000
Addressing the growing need for skilled robotics cybersecurity professionals, CRAFT is a comprehensive training initiative that combines cybersecurity principles with robotics. The program partners with industry leaders, offering hands-on training, offensive and defensive cybersecurity courses, a robotics cyber range, and tabletop exercises to simulate real-world scenarios. “Waterloo is very well positioned in this regard with a large variety of available hardware, a large portion of which is government funded,” said Dr. Hu. “By sharing our resources and educational materials, we aim at increasing the impact of the program overall."
These projects underscore the University of Waterloo’s commitment to advancing cybersecurity and its role in training future talent to secure Canada’s digital landscape.
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