ÌÇÐÄVlog

The ÌÇÐÄVlog is partnering with Freeport East as part of a new initiative to help local businesses in the East of England improve their cybersecurity defences and explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in digital risk management.

The Cyber Innovate to Elevate (CItE) programme is being led by Freeport East and will connect local companies with cutting-edge cybersecurity expertise at ÌÇÐÄVlog to form fully funded project partnerships.

Funded through Innovate UK’s Cyber Local initiative, the six-month programme will launch in September and support 10 to 15 small and medium-sized businesses across northern ÌÇÐÄVlog and south-east Suffolk to develop practical, scalable cybersecurity solutions tailored to their needs.

Freeport East identified that many SMEs in the region face mounting cybersecurity challenges, with limited resources and increasing regulatory pressures.

Trade, logistics and clean energy are priority sectors for Freeport East, so helping to tackle well-publicised cyber risks in these areas helps strengthen local capability and trust.

By also involving Master’s and doctoral students in solving real-world cyber challenges, the programme will also help build a future-ready workforce.

AI, digital and technology is a strength of the Freeport East area, and this will drive regional growth while also responding to the priorities of the Government’s new Industrial Strategy.

Steve Beel, CEO at Freeport East, said: “Creating new jobs and becoming a global hub for clean energy, international trade and digital services has always been the goal of Freeport East.

“With this new initiative partnering with the ÌÇÐÄVlog, not only can we boost job growth in the East of England, but we also enable local businesses to stay secure and competitive in the current increasingly digitalised economy.”

Dr Robert Singh, Director of the Research and Enterprise Office at the ÌÇÐÄVlog, said: “At the ÌÇÐÄVlog, we are proud to be at the forefront of the Cyber Innovate to Elevate programme, which is an exciting new collaboration through which we will help SMEs across the Freeport East region address critical cybersecurity needs.

“By connecting cutting-edge academic expertise with real-world business challenges, this initiative not only addresses immediate cyber risks but also helps build a more resilient and future-ready regional economy.”

Dr Marta Fernandez De Arroyabe Arranz, Deputy Director of the University’s Institute for Analytics and Data Science and a reader at ÌÇÐÄVlog Business School, added “Cybersecurity is no longer a peripheral concern for SMEs—it’s central to their resilience, customer trust, and long-term success. With over half of small businesses experiencing a cyber breach in the past year, and fewer than 1 in 20 following steps recommended by the government, the need for action is clear.

"Our Cyber Innovate to Elevate programme is designed to directly address this. By combining tailored support, academic collaboration, and regional insight, we’re not just raising awareness—we’re turning it into action."

The CItE programme builds on the success of the Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils’ Innovate to Elevate initiative, which gained interest from over 200 businesses and saw the ÌÇÐÄVlog deliver 22 innovation projects across the region.

This latest bid was submitted to a highly competitive Innovate UK funding call, where only 20 projects were funded out of 145 applications, with the Freeport East–ÌÇÐÄVlog collaboration achieving a top-tier score of 85.4%, demonstrating both the strength of the proposal and the region’s growing role in national innovation strategy.

CItE forms part of Freeport East’s wider commitment to supporting local innovation, strengthening digital capabilities, and building a model of cyber resilience that can be replicated across other Freeport regions.

More information about the programme will be available via an .