The Hub will address two challenges introduced by the use of Edge Computing (EC) to support emerging AI algorithms: dealing with cyber disturbances and managing data quality. The Hub will achieve these through a unique 3x3x3x2 matrix that reflects the complexity of these systems: (1) 3 real-world application domains (2) 3 tiers of EC architecture (3) 3 ground-breaking research work streams (4) 2 industry engagement work streams Their inter-relationships will be examined by a multi-disciplinary team with track records in EC architecture (Newcastle, Cardiff, St. Andrews, UWS, Imperial, Hull), foundational AI and Data Quality (Southampton, Durham, QUB, Swansea), wireless communication (Cardiff, UWS), device malfunction, attack detection and prevention (Newcastle, Lancaster, Cardiff, Warwick), and AI security (Lancaster, Swansea, Durham, Warwick). This network will enable us to engage with regional development agencies in these areas. Applications include autonomous electric vehicles, energy security and remote healthcare. At the Newcastle Urban Observatory test-bed, a world-leading UK-funded effort collaborating with sensor system manufacturers, software companies and others, we will use interactions across 3 tiers of EC architecture: sensors (Tier 1), edge devices that control them (Tier 2), and cloud-based data storage and processing (Tier 3), to identify the benefit of these interactions in the real-world data processing. The agenda will be underpinned by activities in 5 interrelated work streams. We have strategies in: Embedding Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: We are committed to EDI policies of UKRI and EPSRC Councils and EDI policies of our members. From these, we will form our guiding principle around EDI for members to adhere to in all matters related to the Hub, including recruitment, research, workshops, project allocations, outreach activities, etc. All core committees will have an EDI champion. We will ensure that activities are fair, free from bias and preference of any kind, and uphold the respect and integrity of all members. The Hub is constituted of members from diverse ethnic backgrounds, races, and gender and has intrinsically diverse and multicultural characteristics. We will actively encourage students from under-represented groups to pursue industry-funded PhDs with the Hub. The PDRA requirement in the Hub will, while maintaining the best talent, offer equal opportunity to candidates of all backgrounds, disabilities, sexual orientations, gender, and ethnicity. The Hub will use institutional infrastructure to support the well-being of staff and members. Intellectual Property Management: While most research outcomes will be made public (e.g., software open access), some may be subject to patents. Participating universities have commercialisation offices to identify, assess, protect, manage and commercially develop IP to maximise national benefits from public investment in research, which we will use to commercialise significant outcomes. Information about services, standards used, and other technical details will be made public to attract industrial partners and to promote training in the new technologies. Non-technical press releases and notes will be available to general audiences. An in-principle agreement has been reached with consortium members that each shall retain ownership of any background IP contributed to the project and that the ownership of project-generated IP shall be shared based on respective partner contributions. Hub activities will in general follow the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research and this will be applied to each project managed under the feasibility fund. Non-Disclosure Agreements with commercial partners will be in place to manage sensitive information. Specific terms regarding IP will be further defined in a collaborative research agreement before the commencement of the project.

Digitalisation has generated a new era of technological innovations whose value can only be maximised with equally innovative cyber security. Our specific focus is on the cyber security of digitalisation and data in large-scale, intermeshed systems and infrastructures - where the boundaries between systems are blurred, data distributed with strong localisation and sovereignty claims, and there exist numerous, intricate inter-dependencies between service architectures. With the increasing shortage of cyber security professionals - both globally and in the UK - there is an urgent need for future research leaders who will have the capability to anticipate the challenges and develop innovative solutions to cyber security in a world where technology operates without concrete, clearly delineated digital boundaries. This capability is critical to ensure that digital infrastructures are secure and resilient and security professionals have suitable methods, tools, techniques and insights for securing the digital societal fabric. The Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) 'Cyber Secure Everywhere: Resilience in a World of Disappearing System Boundaries' will train at least 50 new doctoral-level graduates to address this capability gap. We will do this by educating PhD students in both the technical skills needed to study and analyse blended infrastructures, while simultaneously training them to understand the challenges as fundamentally human too. The training involves close involvement with industry and practitioners who have played a key role in co-creating the programme. The training also leverages state-of-the-art research testbeds and labs at universities of Bristol and Bath as well as partner industry organisations and international research centres. The programme builds on the best practices developed as part of our current CDT on Trust, Identity, Privacy and Security in Large-Scale Infrastructures (TIPS-at-Scale). The first year will involve a series of taught modules providing core knowledge in cyber security (both technical and human & organisational aspects). There will be a programme of co-creation activities with industry as well as deep dives on particular research topics and industry challenges. This co-creation and collaboration ethos will continue throughout their research projects. Throughout the 4-year programme, students will also receive skills training on a number of fundamental computational and analytical techniques as well as intellectual property, entrepreneurship and commercialisation. They will work collaboratively with students in-year and across-years on shared problems and explore responsible innovation in real-world contexts. Through their projects and state-of-the-art experimental infrastructures, they will develop knowledge and expertise on rigorous, evidence-based research on cyber security. The CDT is an exciting, novel way to develop future research and industry leaders who are not only able to tackle cyber security in emerging and future digital infrastructures but can do so in a way that is based on rigorous experimental work and a core ethos of responsible innovation.