BERLIN, Germany â”� March 30, 2021 â”� SEMI today announced its participation as an industry expert in a study by researchers in Coventry University’s Institute for Future Transport and Cities’ (IFTC) Systems Security Group (SSG) to examine drivers of computer hardware security adoption among businesses and consumers.

The UK government’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)-funded Discribe (Digital Security by Design Social Science) Hub awarded SSG more than £100,000 last year for the project. Discribe aims to broaden the deployment of cybersecurity technology and help protect economies worldwide against cyberattacks. TechWorks, UK’s Deep Tech Hub, will also serve as an industry expert body in the project.

“With hardware security critically important to semiconductor innovation, SEMI is pleased to partner with the SSG team on this initiative,” said Laith Altimime, president of SEMI Europe. “The SSG cybersecurity project promises to arm the electronics value chain with best practices it can follow to strengthen the security of electronics.” 

Professor Siraj Shaikh, Director of Research at IFTC and leader of SSG, will oversee the project with support by co-investigators at TU Delft (Netherlands) and Aston University (UK). The project will promote commercial adoption of secure technology by identifying the greatest costs to businesses and understanding the reasons businesses choose not to implement cybersecurity. The findings promise to shed light on cybersecurity vulnerabilities for technology manufacturers, enabling them to better address security gaps in future designs.

“IFTC is committed to Discribe’s goal of mass adoption of cybersecurity by technology providers,” Shaikh said. “Digital security is vital to driving innovation in mobility and artificial intelligence (AI). We look forward to working to build public trust in these technologies to help ensure their widespread adoption.”

About Institute for Future Transport and Cities (IFTC)
The Institute for Future Transport and Cities develops pioneering mobility solutions. From accelerating the progression towards zero-carbon transport and developing inclusive design practices to ensuring the safe implementation of autonomous transport solutions, IFTC is central to solving global mobility challenges. IFTC works closely with industry to ensure that its research has real-world applications, maintaining close relationships with leading businesses within the transport sector.

About IFTC’s Systems Security Group (SSG)
The Group’s core mission is to research and engineer secure and resilient cyber-physical systems for the automotive and transport industry, working in collaboration with partners in industry, academia, and government. The SSG does this by detecting and modelling emerging threats, validating novel solutions for automotive security and resilience.

About SEMI
SEMI® connects more than 2,400 member companies and 1.3 million professionals worldwide to advance the technology and business of electronics design and manufacturing. SEMI members are responsible for the innovations in materials, design, equipment, software, devices, and services that enable smarter, faster, more powerful, and more affordable electronic products. Electronic System Design Alliance (ESD Alliance), FlexTech, the Fab Owners Alliance (FOA) and the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group (MSIG) are SEMI Strategic Technology Communities, defined communities within SEMI focused on specific technologies. Visit  www.semi.org to learn more, contact one of our worldwide offices, and connect with SEMI on  LinkedIn and  Twitter.

Association Contact
Serena Brischetto/SEMI Europe
Phone: +49 30 3030 8077-11
Email:  sbrischetto@semi.org
www.semi.org/eu