FUNDING 2025 – NOW OPEN
Applications for the fellowship should take into account applying for either the area of socio-technical security for cyber physical systems or one of the problems aligned to the NCSC’s Cyber-Physical problem Book.
Socio-technical cyber-physical security focusses on the human and cultural aspects of security in operational environments. This represents engagement on how not just individuals but the whole of organisations engage with security challenges. We are particularly interested in how these challenges and their potential solutions differ in the operational environment to that of a more traditional corporate environment. The key questions are:
- How do we create secure cyber-physical environments that have people at the heart of security?
- What limitations are there with cyber-physical environments for creating good security cultures and how can we go about addressing them?
Alternatively, applications respond to the challenges identified in the NCSC’s Cyber-Physical Problem Book. currently includes:
- How do we build security for systems with long operational lives?
- How do we incentivise better security for cyber-physical systems?
- How can we understand the security of a wide variety of cyber-physical assets?
- How do we have confidence in the security of cyber-physical systems?
- How can we make use of emerging technologies in a secure way within cyber-physical systems?
- How do we build resilience across a ‘system of systems’?
Proposals should make clear how the proposal addresses Cyber-Physical and OT aspects of the problem. To View the Document Click HERE
The RITICS Fellowship roles are leadership roles. Supported by RITICS and the NCSC, you will provide thought leadership in your topic across the RITICS Community and beyond. Specifically, you will:
- Explore the problem space to determine the research questions that need to be addressed and the benefits and means of growing the research topic beyond the initial period of a year.
- Engage with existing, established communities or establish a new community around the topic.
- Identify and engage with relevant research projects that fall under your scope and identify new opportunities to develop and grow the area.
- Consider the pipeline for and sustainability of the topic, providing development opportunities, establish pathways to develop a new research angle, or connect relevant communities that are currently disparate.
The period of the Fellowship (1st April 2025 – 31st March 2026) is intended to be exploratory and stimulate your own innovation and creativity. Therefore, the exact nature and format of the deliverables to satisfy the responsibilities outlined above will naturally vary. The specifics of the exact programme of work to achieve the following can be discussed with the NCSC Technical Lead and the RITICS Co-Directors. The initial set of desired outcomes are:
- Demonstrate how you have built the community.
- Present outcomes of your problem definition activities.
- Articulate existing and recurrent research questions.
- Articulate the strategy for the topic going forward.
The period of the Fellowship (1st April 2025 – 31st March 2026) is intended to be exploratory and stimulate your own innovation and creativity. Therefore, the exact nature and format of the deliverables to satisfy the responsibilities outlined above will naturally vary. The specifics of the exact programme of work to achieve the following can be discussed with the NCSC Technical Lead and the RITICS Co-Directors.
The initial set of desired outcomes are:
• Demonstrate how you have built the community.
• Present outcomes of your problem definition activities.
• Articulate existing and recurrent research questions.
• Articulate the strategy for the topic going forward.
| Activity | Date |
| Call for Fellows Published by | Friday 13th September 2024 |
| Proposals due to be submitted | Friday 1st November 2024 |
| Announcement of Results | Monday 2nd December 2024 |
| Fellowships Starts | Tuesday 1st April 2025 |
| Fellowship Completed | Tuesday 31st March 2026 |
Which level the fellowship would be. Unlike other fellowship programmes, there are no “levels” for RITICS fellowships. We welcome applications from applicants at any stage of their career, providing they make a good case for being able to fulfil the requirements of the Fellowships.
Who can apply for the fellowship? RITICS welcomes applications from both industry and academia. However, the contract of the applicant with their home institution must exceed the duration of the contract for the RITICS fellowship (including any reasonable slippage). For all proposals, and in particular those from industry, we emphasise that the proposal must also represent good value for money. Standard industry commercial contract rates are unlikely to compare well with academic rates.
Can someone from industry apply? Yes
How much percentage of FTE will be acceptable for part time? There are no set percentages. However, the percentage of time devoted to the fellowship must be consistent with the programme of work proposed and available budget as detailed in the call.
Can research associates apply? We do not wish to preclude Research Associates from applying. However, please note that building a community around the topic proposed to be investigated is one of the expected deliverables of the call. The application must therefore demonstrate the applicant’s ability to build such a community.
Can the award be used to employ staff? The funding can be used to employ staff but we do expect the Fellow to devote sufficient time to community building and the research roadmap/sustainability aspects. The funding awarded on a full economic cost basis and it is unlikely that we would award more than £85K to a fellowship.
What is the FEC total %? 100%
Do you employ the fellow directly (partially)? The intention is that the university at which the Fellow is employed will become a sub-contractor to Imperial. The intention is that the Fellowship is a contribution to the salary and other costs associated with the Fellowship and that the successful candidate will be relieved of some of their other duties for the duration of the Fellowship