More than 200 participants celebrated IT research in Bochum on 10 May to mark the 20th anniversary of the HGI and the founding of the Faculty of Computer Science at the RUB.
On Wednesday 10 May, IT research at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) was celebrated with high-ranking guests and engaging speeches. The event celebrated both the 20th anniversary and the establishment of a Department of Computer Science at the RUB in 2021. Mona Neubaur, Deputy Minister President and Minister for Economic Affairs of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, was the guest of honour and gave a clear statement of the importance of IT in Bochum in her welcoming speech. “With the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security, you have created a flagship in Bochum around which a very special ecosystem has developed over the past 20 years. Hidden champions of data security have settled here, radiating outwards and attracting skilled workers,” said the Minister to loud applause from the more than 200 participants from research, politics and business. A real gain for Bochum’s reputation The foundations for this success were laid a good 20 years ago by the researchers Christof Paar and Hans Dobbertin, who, after founding the institute thanks to a generous donation from the entrepreneur Horst Görtz, led Bochum ITS to worldwide renown through intensive work. With the newly founded Faculty of Computer Science, the Ruhr University is now further expanding its strength in IT research. In his video statement, the Mayor of Bochum, Thomas Eiskirch, also emphasised the importance of this foundation: “The opening of this 21st faculty at the RUB is a real gain for Bochum’s image as an IT and ITS hotspot”. The Rector of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Prof. Martin Paul, also praised the work of the institute. “The HGI brings together outstanding scientists and students,” he said, highlighting in particular the diverse activities of Bochum IT in the area of women’s advancement. With various campaigns such as Women in IT Security and various support measures, young scientists in Bochum are particularly supported. Strong women in IT – this topic was also addressed in the keynote speech by journalist Svea Eckert, who shares a common history with the HGI: together with researchers from Bochum, she has already conducted investigative research on several occasions, for example on the diesel scandal or a Chinese surveillance app, which has gained international recognition. The empowerment of women in IT as a big topic The positive increase in the number of female researchers is just one of many positive developments over the last 20 years in ITS, as the panel discussion with five researchers from Bochum pointed out. Tim Güneysu (HGI spokesperson), Alena Naiakshina (junior lecturer), Christof Paar (founding director of the MaxPlanck Institute for Security and Privacy), M. Angela Sasse (spokesperson of the Cluster of Excellence CASA) and Laurenz Wiskott (dean of the Department of Computer Science) engaged in a lively discussion about the past and future of IT research at the RUB. Later on, the guests gathered for the buffet and the evening programme, where they were entertained by a small exhibition about the history of the ITS in Bochum and by the special sounds of the string ensemble “Joker Quartett”. 1Live DJ Christian Vorbau kept the dance floor alive until midnight to round off the evening. By: Christina Scholten General note: In case of using gender-assigning attributes we include all those who consider themselves in this gender regardless of their own biological sex. Gallery:IT-Security
Cube 5 seeks startups for cybersecurity incubator inCUBE Batch #2
The Cube 5 team from Bochum is sending its Next Gen Startup Incubator inCUBE into the next round. Early-stage cybersecurity startups can apply for Batch #2 until 30 September and benefit from customised coaching and networking content.
With inCUBE, Cube 5 has developed an innovative Next Gen incubator for the difficult first steps in the start-up process, which is completely tailored to the needs of early-stage start-ups in the areas of cybersecurity and IT security. The offer for ambitious founders focuses on sustainability and provides intensive five-month support for a maximum of five teams with customised further training and operational assistance. The participating teams can benefit from the connection to a strong regional to supra-regional start-up ecosystem with partners from science and business.
Batch #1, which started in May, is currently underway. Participants receive support from experienced experts on relevant topics such as business model development, company formation, sales, online and personnel marketing. In addition, they can access more than 200 software programmes for free or at significantly reduced rates and are considered for the provision of free office space in Bochum.
The inCUBE funding programme takes place twice a year, with new batches starting in the summer and winter semesters. Teams of two or more people from all over Germany can apply. There are no costs for the participants. Nor do they have to give up any shares in the young companies. The application deadline for the second batch is 30 September 2022.
Podcast “Nachgehackt” is on the air
Our lives are becoming increasingly digital – and the topic of IT security is thus becoming more and more important. The new format “Nachgehackt – der Podcast zu IT-Security”, produced at the Ruhr University Bochum, wants to sensitize, inform and give tips for digital practice. The first episode is now available.
- Episode 2: “Internet of Things-Security” with Dr. Heiko Koepke and Dr. Christian Zenger (both CEO & founder of PHYSEC GmbH)
- Episode 3: “Cyberwar” with Dr.-Ing. Christian Mainka (Horst Goertz Institute for IT Security) and Prof. Dr. Constantin Goschler (Faculty of historical Sciences, RUB)
- Episode 4: “Hacking in Hollywood” with Dr. des. Mary Shnayien (Institute of Media Studies, RUB)
- Episode 5: “IT Security & Startups” with Friederike Schneider (Cube 5) and Matteo Große-Kampmann (Managing Director & Founder AWARE7 GmbH)
Accelerator SpeedUpSecure 2022: Closing event and award ceremony
Ten particularly innovative startups from all over Germany qualified for the “SpeedUpSecure” accelerator program for cybersecurity startups. From the beginning of February to the end of March, they benefited from a targeted training program and were accompanied by mentors from the business world. At the final event, the ten startups presented their young company and technology in a five-minute pitch to a top-class jury and an audience of experts. The three winning teams were awarded prize money totaling EUR 5,000.
Cybersecurity and privacy protection are more important today than ever. To be able to protect against new and more complex attacks, it requires forward-looking ideas and innovations. Startups play a special role in this. They have set themselves the task of strengthening the cyber security of business and society with new solutions. The innovative power of the still young companies became clear at the final pitch event of the accelerator for cybersecurity startups “SpeedUpSecure”, which took place on 23.3.2022. The pitch was made in front of a top-class jury consisting of representatives* of the companies asvin, EnBW, infodas, Lufthansa, Ottobock, SpeedInvest and Xariva Ventures as well as a major German sporting goods manufacturer.
Ten ambitious startups at the final pitch event
Each of the ten startups offers an innovative solution to the diverse, new challenges in cybersecurity. For example, securing against threats posed by the increasing digitization of households. Startup Bitahoy has developed a plug-and-play network security system to make smart homes secure and protect privacy.
Cloud is another strong trend that brings new attack scenarios. Two startups in the program are making the cloud more secure: CodeShield analyzes cloud infrastructures from the attacker’s perspective and generates concrete attack scenarios within the cloud. The startup Resility enables secure and resilient cloud infrastructures with its Mitigant solution through new approaches from research, such as the use of security chaos engineering.
Artificial intelligence techniques such as machine learning enable new approaches to cybersecurity, which the startup DeepSign knows how to use to constantly verify a user’s identity based on their mouse and keyboard usage.
Another technology trend is blockchain, but with some drawbacks that the startup PolyCrypt addresses. It stands for acceleration, scalability and simplification of blockchain usage with increased privacy protection, as well as seamless connection of different blockchain ecosystems.
Examining existing applications for vulnerabilities and quality deficiencies with new methods and fixing them is also emerging as an IT security trend. How does one proceed, for example, if the software used is not available in source code and is thus hardly human-readable? The startup Langlauf Security Automation develops solutions for this: The young team of entrepreneurs offers practical security quality assurance for both supplied and self-developed software. LocateRisk offers an approach to scan the IT security situation via the Internet, i.e. from the outside and also without additional effort by administrators of the facilities under consideration. The analysis based on the non-invasive scan shows cyber risks and the presentation of results is thereby easy to understand for everyone.
The trend for particularly high IT security is also intensifying in the current situation – here, too, specialized startups are making their contribution. With immune’s solution, companies can harden servers and PCs with an automated, AI-supported analysis of the hardware and firmware in order to operate them according to high security standards. The startup Quantum Optics Jena uses the laws of quantum physics to provide innovative solutions for quantum-secured encryption and information transmission. Using lasers and via optical fiber, secrets can be generated and transmitted.
In the field of incident response and digital forensics, analyzing computers still running at the scene of suspicion or crime and securing evidence is a major challenge for companies and law enforcement agencies. Trufflepig Forensics makes working memory analysis methods more efficient and expands the possibilities of finding evidence.
Winners of the final pitch event
In addition to innovation, the jury also evaluated other factors such as the business model or the team. Three startups were able to particularly convince the jury.
The startup Quantum Optics Jena won the first prize of 2,500 euros. The jury based its decision on the fact that deep tech has the strongest impact in the long term and sees great potential for it both here in Europe and worldwide. Founder Dr. Kevin Füchsel expressed his gratitude by saying, “Many thanks to the SpeedUpSecure team for the accelerator program. Together with the supporting Expert:in and the sponsor, a great format has been created. We hope that many more teams from universities and research institutions will learn the basics of entrepreneurship here and thus realize their visions faster.”
The startup DeepSign made it to the second prize of 1,500 euros. According to the jury, the innovative solution has the potential to abolish passwords. The startup LocateRisk received the third prize of 1,000 euros. The jury thus honored the Innovative solution to make cybersecurity and risks measurable from the outside and to provide corresponding figures.
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Photo (from left): Dr. Alexander Schellong, infodas, Nils Vossebein (DeepSign), Dr. Kevin Füchsel (Quantum Optics Jena), Lukas Baumann (LocateRisk), Carlina Bennison (StartUpSecure I ATHENE)
Alumni Angel Meetup 2022
Cube 5 and the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security invite all HGI alumni, students and young founders* to the Alumni Angel Meetup 2022 on May 3.
The event will take place within the ITS Connect and the Eurobits Security Summit as a hybrid event (live at the event center of the Ruhr-University Bochum and online).
In addition to presentations, a one-hour digital SpeedDating event offers all participants the opportunity to meet again, get to know each other and network. Here, memories, experiences or expertise can be exchanged in a digital format, business models presented and investors and advisors for startup companies can be won.
Process:
3 pm
Greeting (Hybrid)
PROF. DR.-ING. CHRISTOF PAAR
Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy / Cube 5
15:15
Starting point Bochum (Hybrid)
DR. AXEL POSCHMANN
xen1thLabs / RUB-Alumni
15:45
How Research Becomes Innovation (Hybrid)
PROF. DR. GHASSAN KARAME
Faculty of Computer Science RUB
16:15 – 17:15 (Digital)
SpeedDating
from 17:15 (live)
Finally at Bermuda3Eck