New centre to tackle global explosion of digital threats and to drive innovation

The University of Wolverhampton’s response to the escalating frequency and sophistication of cyber threats facing businesses (most recently highlighted by UK’s major retail companies, Harrods, M&S and Co-op) and recognising the crucial role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing and strengthening the UK's digital security and economic competitiveness, the University has established the Centre for Cyber Resilience and Artificial Intelligence (CYBRAI). This significant initiative aims to address the growing regional and national needs for expertise in cyber security and AI research, innovation, and skills development.

The urgency of this initiative is underscored by recent government statistics. The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025 revealed that a concerning 43% of businesses and 30% of charities experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months, equating to approximately 612,000 UK businesses and 61,000 UK charities. Furthermore, Britain's cyber security chief warned in December 2024 of a 16% rise in hostile activity in the country's cyberspace compared to the previous year. A National Audit Office (NAO) report in January 2025 also highlighted ‘substantial gaps in cyber-resilience’ in 58 critical government IT systems. (Links to background information at end of media release).

CYBRAI is committed to leading and facilitating the development of a robust cyber-resilient ecosystem for the West Midlands and beyond through its cutting-edge research and innovative initiatives. The Centre will serve as a hub for collaboration, bringing together academia, industry, and government to tackle the evolving challenges in the digital landscape.

AI will be a crucial component of CYBRAI's work, recognising its potential to not only defend against threats but also to drive economic growth, with the UK government stating that "AI drives the economic growth on which the prosperity of our people and the performance of our public services depend." The national AI Opportunities Action Plan also emphasizes the need to ‘Position the UK to be an AI maker, not an AI taker’ and significantly expand AI research capabilities. AI's potential includes automating repetitive tasks, freeing up to 20% of employee time, and dramatically speeding up report generation.

"The establishment of CYBRAI underscores the University's commitment to addressing the critical challenges and opportunities presented by the digital revolution," says Professor Prashant Pillai, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Exchange) at the University of Wolverhampton. "This Centre will be a vital hub for research, innovation, and skills development in cyber resilience and AI, not only for our region but with national and international impact."

Professor Zeeshan Pervez, Director of CYBRAI, added: “The University has a strong track record in cybersecurity research and education, including being named Cyber University of the Year. The Centre will continue the momentum of this success and will work with businesses and partners to deliver innovative cyber and AI solutions, whilst addressing the skills needs of the region and beyond.”

To mark this important milestone, the University of Wolverhampton will officially launch CYBRAI on Friday 16 May 2025, from 9.30 am to 1:00 pm at the University of Wolverhampton Science Park, Glaisher Drive, Wolverhampton WV10 9RU.

This launch event will provide an opportunity to explore the Centre’s vision, learn about its upcoming projects, and network with key stakeholders in the cyber security and AI sectors.

Notes

Links to background information

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2025/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2025

https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/uk-facing-increased-hostile-activity-cyberspace-security-official-warns-2024-12-03/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-opportunities-action-plan/ai-opportunities-action-plan

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg72kg5yn2ko

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg72k851dd8o

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62x4zxe418o