Technion Cyber Security Research Center Inaugurated

Technion Cyber Security Research Center Inaugurated

“Technion will no doubt advance the field into new directions,” commented Head of the National Cyber Bureau.

Dr. Eviatar Matania, Head of Israel’s National Cyber Bureau, attended the inauguration ceremony at the Technion of the Cyber Security Research Center alongside Technion President Professor Peretz Lavie. At the ceremony, Dr. Matania said that the Technion was the first institute of higher learning that they approached about setting up the project; “We approached the Technion about establishing a center of this caliber because of its reputation for excellence, and especially the outstanding capabilities and knowledge power coming out of its Faculties of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Computer Engineering Center (TCE). “Its academic capabilities along with its technological prowess that has placed it among the top leading institutes of the world promise that the cyber field will advance into new directions.”

Professor Eli Biham, Head of the Cyber Security Research Center at the Technion (right) with Dr. Eviatar Matania, Head of Israel’s National Cyber Bureau, and Technion President Professor Peretz Lavie.

Professor Eli Biham from Technion’s Faculty of Computer Science will head the new center, which opened its doors last week. Prof. Biham explained that, “Today, Israel and the Technion in particular, are leaders in maintaining the country’s ability to withstand cyber threats. Yet to continue to do this we must promote interdisciplinary research that relies on the capabilities of the Technion. At the center, faculty members from various faculties will investigate the ‘lower layers of cyberspace.’ The study topics will focus on security and explore the weaknesses that endanger systems and methods of protection. The center will foster awareness of these issues and will hold seminars for engineers working in cyber security in order to broaden their knowledge and keep them abreast of the latest developments in the field. We invite industry collaboration and will be happy to host researchers and post-doctorate fellows from Israel and abroad.”

The new research center will focus on cyber security research such as software and hardware protection, operating systems security, cloud security, protection of IoT (Internet of Things) systems, verification of software and hardware, computer vision, safety of autonomous systems, cryptology and cryptanalysis, safety and privacy of medical and aeronautical systems, and many others. The center will manage research grants for researchers and graduate students (MSc and PhD), serve as a focal point for scholars, focus on disseminating innovative knowledge through conferences and international workshops, and deepen awareness of the field via courses, lectures and other outreach activities.

Technion President, Prof. Peretz Lavie, welcomed the establishment of the Cyber Security Research Center: “The State of Israel finally understands the importance of the field of cyber security, and the establishment of the center at the Technion is of great consequence. From my acquaintance with the brilliant minds that have come together to found this center I am certain that it will become a top leading cyber security research facility that will contribute greatly to the field.”

Mr. Gilad Erdan, the Minister of Public Security, sent his well wishes for the establishment of the center and wrote, “The Technion is a world leading institute and a source of great national pride. I am confident that the establishment of the center will contribute greatly to our national security and the Israeli economy.”

In his letter of congratulations to the Technion President, Mr. Ofir Akunis, Minister of Science, Technology and Space, wrote: “The combination of knowledge power and the brightest minds that distinguish the Technion, coupled with the keenness to lead and succeed and uncompromising determination, will empower us and make us into an unstoppable force against those who seek to harm us.”

As part of the inauguration festivities of the Technion Cyber Security Research Center, the following lectures by experts from the Technion’s Faculties of Computer Science and Engineering were held at the Technion:  Associate Professor Eran Yahav lectured on new tools to find similarities in computer programs with applications to locate malicious code (viruses); Assistant Professor Mark Silberstein gave a presentation on the use of graphic cards as a means through which to break into computerized systems; Daniel Genkin talked about side channel attacks on computers and mobile devices using external measurement of physical variables such as electrical power and acoustic measurement; and Professor Eli Ben-Sasson lectured on new technology to ensure the ‘computational integrity’ of financial processes and other practices.