Pioneering UK cyber-security centre aims to transform crime prevention [23 Sep 2009] [CSIT, news@cctvinfo.com] Centre for Secure Information Technologies based in Belfast has CCTV on its agenda Click image for the CSIT website Ultra powerful processors to enable safer internet surfing. Innovative CCTV analysis to cut crime on public transport. Cutting-edge research to combat computer viruses. These are some of the research projects that will be the focus of a major UK cyber-security centre launched today. The new £25 million Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT), based at Queen’s University Belfast, is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Technology Strategy Board, Queen’s University Belfast and a range of partner organisations. CSIT is unique because it brings together, under one roof, cutting-edge expertise in data security, network security, wireless network enabled systems and surveillance intelligence systems. Harnessing this expertise, CSIT will help pioneer the concept of converged security ~ the use of IT systems to improve people’s physical security while protecting the systems themselves to ensure they can’t be hacked into. Professor John McCanny, Principal Investigator at CSIT, says: "CSIT has an excellent technology platform based on world-leading expertise at the University and its Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT). Our starting points are mission-driven projects for which we have identified end goals. CSIT also has a strong entrepreneurial ethos. We’re confident that we’ll be able to fast-track the development of marketable applications of our technologies to the benefit of UK industry and the wider economy" CSIT is one of the first Innovation and Knowledge Centres to be established in the UK.