A research team led by Waterloo Engineering professors received $2 million in new federal funding to safeguard Canada’s critical cybersecurity infrastructure by identifying and countering threats that could emerge through the supply chain.
Led by Dr. Sebastian Fischmeister, an electrical and computer engineering professor and member of the University of Waterloo's Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute, and Dr. Michael Mayer, a professor in mechanical and mechatronics engineering, the Materials-based Cybersecurity in Electronics (MATSEC) project brings together a collaborative team of Waterloo Engineering researchers.
The group includes Dr. George Shaker, Dr. Rodolfo Pellizzoni, Dr. Yash Pant, Dr. Hiren Patel and Dr. Apurva Narayan, working in collaboration with government partners, Palitronica and Wade Antenna.
Left to right: Dr. Sebastian Fischmeister and Dr. Michael Mayer.
Targeting hidden hardware threats
Fischmeister and Mayer’s project examines how vulnerabilities in electronic hardware can be engineered and exploited through advanced materials-science techniques. By combining offensive and defensive research, the team will model how malicious actors could tamper with hardware during manufacturing and develop detection tools to counter these emerging risks.
Fischmeister said the research aims to stay ahead of threats that could undermine the integrity of Canada’s critical systems. “By understanding vulnerabilities at the material level, we cover a blind spot in supply chain cybersecurity, and it will lead to stronger, more resilient defences,” he said.
Mayer noted that materials-science–based attacks rely on subtle physical changes that do not alter circuits or code, allowing them to bypass software checks. “Their stealth and reliance on material properties make non-invasive detection extremely challenging while critically important for hardware assurance,” he said.
Palitronica’s Mark Sangster emphasized the project’s importance. “The project is an important step toward the Zero Trust Supply Chain and will allow our customers to detect advanced post-manufacturing and insider attacks,” he said. “The Zero Trust Supply Chain delivers defence in depth, enabling companies in critical infrastructure to protect against sophisticated supply chain threats.”
Blake Dickson, president and CEO at Wade Antenna, highlighted the company’s commitment to supporting proactive cybersecurity research. “Wade Antenna recognizes the importance of staying ahead of evolving threats that could compromise our critical infrastructure,” he said. “Supporting this project aligns with our mission to promote resilient technology solutions which will secure our supply chains against sophisticated cyber threats.”
About the National Cybersecurity Consortium
This project was made possible in-part through the support of the National Cybersecurity Consortium and the Government of Canada (CSIN) // Ce projet a été rendu possible en partie grâce au soutien du Consortium national pour la cybersécurité et du gouvernement du Canada (RIC). Fischmeister and Mayer's project is one of 32 Canadian-led initiatives funded through the CSIN's $20.9-million investment this year to advance cybersecurity research, commercialization and training.