GCHQ is to splash out research funds to eight UK universities, who have been picked to help tighten up the UK's cyber-security levels.

The universities will benefit from an initial cash handout of £50,000, followed by further funding, with each officially being declared an "Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research".

The establishments in question are the University of Bristol, University of Southampton, Imperial College London, Lancaster University, Queen's University Belfast, Royal Holloway, University College London and the University of Oxford. So Cambridge didn't make the cut, it would seem...

Broadly, they'll be expected to put their heads together and work closely with GCHQ in cyber-defence research across government, business and consumer spheres. The idea is also to provide more graduates to be employed in the cyber-security industry.

David Willetts, Universities and Science Minister, commented: "Britain has one of the largest online economies in the world and a growing cyber security sector. Supporting universities to carry out more research and training skilled graduates to work in the cyber security industry will help build further confidence in doing business online.

"There was strong competition among universities to be selected as a Centre of Excellence in cyber security research and I congratulate those who have been successful."

Source: Computerworld