Three Universities of Applied Sciences Get SPRONG Grant for Cyber Resilience Research

The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS), together with Saxion, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences and a large consortium of societal partners, has been awarded a prestigious Stimulating Practical Research Groups (SPRONG) grant by the SIA Directorate. With this grant the universities of applied science aim to strongly develop their existing cooperation in the field of cyber resilience over the next eight years.

To promote the quality and impact of higher professional education research in the Netherlands, the SIA Directorate, part of NWO, finances this research and encourages cooperation between universities of applied sciences, the business community and public institutions. One of those SIA funding streams is the SPRONG subsidy.

Lecturer in Cybercrime & Cybersecurity at THUAS and Secretary Rutger Leukfeldt, is pleased with this grant. It exemplifies the importance of cyber resilience and the excellence of the three universities. "With this research funding, we can not only bring more synergy to the research of the three universities of applied sciences. We can also contribute to the development of more generic knowledge. Among other things, by aligning the curricula more closely, based on the research results."

Consortium

The three universities are the core of the Cyber Resilience Netherlands Expertise Network and work closely in a consortium with the municipalities of The Hague, Apeldoorn, Zoetermeer, Leeuwarden and Amersfoort, the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), the Ministry of Justice and Security, the National Police and the companies and (knowledge) institutes like Security Delta (HSD), the Royal Association MKB-Nederland, the Center for Crime Prevention and Security (CCV), Cyber Safe Netherlands, the Digital Trust Center (DTC), Center for Security & Digitization, East Netherlands Security Network, Ferm, the Dutch Innovation Factory, Secure Business Platform (PVO) East Netherlands and The Hague, Leiden University, The Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR) and the Security Alliance Region Rotterdam.

Role HSD

HSD will contribute to this consortium for approximately two years with 60 project hours per year. Strengthening those connections should create an ecosystem that leads to continuous demand articulation.

The SPRONG group focuses on making the Netherlands more cyber-resilient. The number of cyber-attacks is only increasing, while the resilience of organisations lags. By equipping organisations better for cyber threats, the SPRONG group has a direct impact. The focus is not so much on technology, but on people: which aspects of behaviour and attitude influence cyber resilience and how can organisations improve these aspects for cyber resilience? 

Find out more about the SPRONG grant! 

And also read the press release from The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS)!