2024 Workforce & Industry Engagement Program – US

Objective

• The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) is establishing Virginia as a global center of excellence at the intersection of security, autonomous systems, and data. With a mission of research, innovation, and workforce development, CCI serves as a catalyst for the commonwealth’s long-term leadership in this sector through the collaboration of a central hub and four regional nodes.

Tracks

• The Southwest Virginia Node is led by Virginia Tech (VT). The Cybersecurity Workforce and Industry Engagement Program exists to seed efforts along two tracks:
  • Track 1: Workforce development 
    • Summer funding for graduate students or undergraduates engaged in research and/or innovation projects.
  • Track 2: Startup engagement
    • Funds to engage students or faculty with startups. Company must have operations in Virginia and must be specified in the proposal.
• Focus areas should be related to the intersection of data, autonomy, and security. CCI Southwest Virginia has a particular emphasis on cybersecurity related to fast, secure, and customizable communications systems and technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), defense-in-depth cybersecurity solutions, emerging technologies (such as NextG and quantum algorithms) and cryptographic protocols, applications in transportation, energy, space, autonomous systems, manufacturing, and agriculture, as well as issues surrounding human factors, privacy, ethics, and global security in society.

Awards

• Anticipated award amount: up to $10,000

Period of Performance

• May 01, 2024 – August 31, 2024

Eligibility

• The PI must be from a public institution of higher education in CCI Southwest Virginia and be deemed eligible by their home institution to serve as a Principal Investigator (PI) on an external grant. Women, gender and underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
• They welcome researchers, professors, instructors, industry professionals, students, and government professionals from all racial, ethnic, gender, religious, sexual orientation, and cultural backgrounds; disabled and nondisabled; veterans; career changers-anyone with an interest in cyber related research, innovation, and experiential learning opportunities. There are a number of underrepresented groups and perspectives in cybersecurity, and they are creating a space where everyone can share, learn, and connect around research, innovation, and experiential learning in cybersecurity.

For more information, visit Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Southwest Virginia.