The Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology SIT and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem jointly launched the Hessian-Israeli Partnership Accelerator (HIPA) for Cybersecurity on November 2. in Jerusalem. HIPA is the first start-up accelerator with focus on cyber security in Germany and Israel: Over a period of three months, young German and Israeli cyber security experts are developing solutions for current cyber security challenges in mixed teams. The program addresses young cyber security talents in both countries and starts with one residential week in Jerusalem. In the following weeks, the participants form distributed teams, carrying out research and development in their respective countries.

The program ends with another residential week in Darmstadt and a final event at the Permanent Representation Office of the State of Hesse in Berlin, where the first round of students will present their results in January 2018. Further information about HIPA can be found at www.cybertech.fraunhofer.de

Cyber security plays a significant role both in Jerusalem and in Darmstadt: Worldwide, Israel is considered to be the country with the most active start-up culture, especially in cyber security. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is one of the leading universities in many security fields worldwide. Furthermore, Israel has an especially high number of highly motivated young experts in cyber security. Darmstadt is hosting the largest center for applied cyber security research in Europe, the Center for Research in Security and Privacy CRISP, of which Fraunhofer SIT is a member. CRISP is also a partner of the Digital Hub for Cyber Security and thus part of the German Hub initiative, the nationwide network of outstanding start-up centers in Germany. Fraunhofer SIT is one of the leading research institutes for applied cyber security worldwide, home of the Fraunhofer Excellence Center for Security and Privacy in the Digital World and directly involved in Darmstadt’s Digital City activities.

The goal of HIPA is to improve the chance of success for cyber security start-ups. To achieve this, the participating cyber security talents are dealing with real questions from economy and society. These challenges are chosen by industry partners and represent current and urgent security issues, whose solution may lead to marketable products and services. The participants receive intensive professional and methodical training and mentoring, and learn how to combine and use the different German and Israeli approaches. At events like the kick-off in Jerusalem or the final event in Berlin, the participants will be getting in contact with the start-up scene both in Israel and in Germany, with politicians and both countries’ cyber security experts.

The industrial partners Allianz and Cisco are actively supporting HIPA by participating in selected research activities. HIPA is a project of Fraunhofer SIT in Darmstadt and the Fraunhofer Project Center for Cyber Security (Fraunhofer SIT/IL) in Jerusalem. The Israeli National Cyber Directorate and the Federal Office for Information Security are associated partners of Fraunhofer SIT/IL.

Hessian Minister of Science Boris Rhein: „Today we achieve a new milestone in the cooperation between Fraunhofer SIT and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The start of the first students on the Hessian-Israeli Partnership Accelerator (HIPA) for Cybersecurity project allows young students and researchers to train themselves at the highest level and to establish contacts in the industry. I am sure that this program will be a great success for the involved students, research organizations and companies.”

Ralf Schneider, Allianz: „Cyber security is the prerequisite of digitalization and therefore one of the key topics for us at Allianz Group and our customers. The Hessian-Israeli Partnership Accelerator (HIPA) for Cybersecurity follows a unique concept by taking up directly relevant ideas and approaches from cutting-edge research and by realizing them with groups of young German and Israeli security experts. We expect that new and innovative products will emerge from this approach and ultimately start-ups with a much better chance of success than usual.”

Michael von der Horst, Director Cybersecurity at Cisco Germany: „ “Security is prerequisite for digitization. With our engagement, we want to strengthen the German business location in this area that is so important to our future. HIPA combines the strength of the Hessian IT security cluster with the leading edge experience from the Israeli IT sector. We are looking forward to fresh ideas, great projects and eagerly await the outcome of this first round.”

Haya Shulman, Fraunhofer SIT: “Improving cyber security is critical for the stability and security of Internet clients and services. HIPA addresses this goal by joining forces between Germany and Israel in a unique cybersecurity accelerator. HIPA is the first accelerator to focus exclusively on cybersecurity. HIPA provides an exclusive opportunity for governments and small to large enterprises to experiment with new technology, and quickly identify threats and vulnerabilities. Due to the close guidance by and involvement of experts shaping ideas and projects together with the participants, HIPA allows VCs and organizations to invest in advanced cybersecurity technology while significantly reducing the risk for failures.“

Yigal Unna, chief executive director INCD: “For a long time the innovation was the heart of the academic research, nowadays the innovation is the beating heart of the Israeli cyber. Connectivity and Cooperation is synonymous for Cyber. As such, the great initiative between the Fraunhofer SIT institute and the Hebrew university of Jerusalem to forge together a cyber security innovation accelerator is a great example of both cooperation and innovation, that will bring people - and Cyber is all about people - students and researchers from Germany and Israel together for a good public cause.”