A support programme听backed by GCHQ听for UK companies using data to help improve the safety of people online has launched in Greater Manchester.听
The mentorship scheme 鈥� GCHQ Innovation Co-Lab听鈥� will be run from The Landing in听MediaCity, Salford, and听seek听innovative start-ups and听SMEs听based in the North West.听
Companies taking part in the 12-week programme will work with GCHQ technologists and industry experts to improve their products using data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning.听
The aim is to support the development of innovative products in health, education and other sectors including those that tackle the long-term effects of organised crime.听
Gav Smith, GCHQ Director General for Technology, said:听鈥淎s we increasingly live more of our lives online there is a greater risk data can be manipulated to commit crimes and take advantage of the most vulnerable members of our society.听听
鈥淲ith GCHQ鈥檚 mentorship and support these businesses will have the potential to use the latest technology to improve people鈥檚 safety online.鈥�听
Last year听GCHQ,听which听identifies, analyses听and disrupts听cyber听threats,听announced the opening of a new Manchester city centre hub in Albert Square.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to be supporting the thriving technology ecosystem in Greater Manchester, connecting ingenious entrepreneurs and creative technologists with the mission of GCHQ to help tackle some of our hardest challenges,鈥�听added Smith.听
The scheme is also being run in partnership with global tech accelerator UP Ventures.听
Emer Coleman, Project Director at Up Accelerator,听said:听“The GCHQ Innovation Co-Lab will focus on enabling cutting-edge technologies based around data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning.听听
鈥�Critical sectors such as听health, education, emergency services and communications rely heavily on data integrity on which increasingly, vital machine learning is based.听
“This will only become more important in the future as citizens and businesses across the globe adjust to living with COVID–19.听听
鈥�Our goal is to help emerging businesses make technical and commercial breakthroughs with their ingenious products and services by giving them access to world-class GCHQ technologists as well as industry experts and dedicated coaches.”听
Jon Corner, Chief Digital Officer at听the听City of Salford,听said:听“The GCHQ Innovation Co-Lab at The Landing resonates with our ambitions in Salford and Greater Manchester to build products and solutions that work for all citizens.听听
“I鈥檓 delighted that The Landing听MediaCityUK听is a key part of an evolving and growing partnership with GCHQ, which itself is contributing to the strength of the Greater Manchester digital eco-system.鈥�听