UK’s Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy Ed Vaizey has confirmed the plan for a new research hub to push forward UK research in the field of Internet of Things (IoT).
The PETRAS IoT Hub is expected to explore the technical, ethical and social issues associated with the next generation networks.
The initiative is aimed at making the UK one of the best places to develop and deploy new internet technologies.
It consists of a consortium of nine leading UK universities and is led by the University College London. Other universities involved include the Imperial College London, University of Oxford, University of Warwick, Lancaster University, and University of Southampton.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded £9.8m for the hub, and an additional £9.7m was contributed from partners including businesses, NGOs, and public bodies.
The project is part of IoTUK, an integrated £40m, three-year government programme that is designed to advance the UK’s global leadership in IoT.
Ed Vaizey said: "UK universities are renowned for their creativity, and pioneering research and development.
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"We want the UK to be a world leader in the adoption of Internet of Things technologies, and I know that bringing these universities together with partners from the UK’s thriving tech industry will be instrumental in making this a reality."
The initial 17 projects undertaken by the hub will include large scale experiments at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the cybersecurity of low power body sensors and implants, and ensuring that connected smart meters are not a threat to home security.
