The government has announced its support for HutZero, a cybersecurity pre-startup that aims to encourage UK innovation in the sector.
Its role will hopefully reduce cyber threats in the country while also developing the UK's position in security innovation, by encouraging entrepreneurs, students and others starting out in business to develop solutions to fight cybercrime.
The HutZero accelerator programme comprises a week-long boot camp and a follow-up event where 20 participants chosen by HutZero will showcase their solutions after getting mentoring from a selection of cyber security and startup experts.
The initiative is being funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as part of the Government's National Cyber Security Programme.
"The Government is committed to investing in the UK's cyber security industry so I'm pleased we're supporting HutZero, a unique programme for talented individuals wanting to start a cyber security company in the UK," said Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey.
"Working with Cyber London and CSIT who are developing this initiative, I hope HutZero will attract the most inquisitive minds from academia, industry, Government and further afield. This programme will help make sure we support the next generation of innovative UK cyber security companies."
Additionally, HutZero will allow entrepreneurs to generate income from the innovations developed in the programme, taking advantage of the growing commercial opportunities of cyber security.
"The requirement for cyber security solutions and services is growing, but the industry doesn't see the level of innovation that other areas of technology have benefited from in recent years," Dr Godfrey Gaston, Director, the Centre for Secure Information Technologies added.
"At the moment, accelerator programmes tend to be generic and are focused on teams of people with fully fledged business ideas. There's a mass of people out there with ideas, but nowhere to take them. This programme provides the first step."
