The University of New Brunswick (UNB) has announced a partnership with CyberSpark, a Beersheba, Israel-based cybersecurity initiative that acts as a central coordinating body for joint cyber industry activities.
UNB said the partnership, which is meant to spur innovation and collaboration in the field of cyber research, is the first between CyberSpark and a Canadian university. A memorandum of understanding was signed by UNB president Eddy Campbell and CyberSpark’s CEO Roni Zehavi to formalize the research partnership at UNB’s Fredericton campus.
“UNB has been fostering industry collaboration, research and innovation in the area of cybersecurity for more than 15 years,” said Campbell. “It’s a great honour, and a great testament to our determined work in this sector, to be the first Canadian university to partner with CyberSpark. We’re very much looking forward to advancing and increasing our industry-focused research and development activities.”
Launched in 2014 by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, CyberSpark aims to bring together local companies, global multinationals, and various levels of government to research different aspects of cybersecurity. CyberSpark became interested in a collaboration with UNB’s cybersecurity research after a visit to the university last year.
Ali Ghorbani, director of the Canadian Institute of Cybersecurity at UNB and the university’s dean of computer science, said the partnership is also meant to create greater innovation and economic opportunities for New Brunswick.
“The training of highly qualified people, as well as job and company creation with another country, has the potential to grow the province’s economy,” said Ghorbani.
UNB and CyberSpark’s partnership comes on the heels of a recent announcement that New Brunswick is providing $63.6 million in funding for two of the province’s innovation agencies.