RMIT, TNO collaborate to strengthen cyber expertise

RMIT and TNO representatives at the signing ceremony

“This agreement will facilitate discussions of possible solutions to cybersecurity threats, with an interdisciplinary approach, and based on technical foundations from control theory, artificial intelligence, game theory, networking, and software engineering,” he said.

“In addition, the MOU will create an opportunity for the staff at our state-of-the-art Cyber Security Lab and those who are interested in the topic to gain insightful information and exchange knowledge and ideas about the future of cybersecurity.”

The agreement also provides an opportunity for RMIT to incorporate cybersecurity and blockchain into its authentic assessments.

“We aim to extend the learning process beyond the classroom by exposing our students to industry and real world issues, in order to produce graduates who are ready for life and work,” Nkhoma added.

According to Mark van Staalduinen, deputy director of TNO South East Asia, this collaboration will help strengthen networks and expertise in South East Asia, especially in Vietnam.

“On top of this expertise, we aim to deepen the cyber expertise especially on the addressed areas of interest. Due to Vietnam’s excellent work attitude and persistence, and the multi-disciplinary approach and strong skills developed at RMIT, this partnership is very important for TNO.

It not only strengthens our position in South East Asia, (as) the expected results are mutually beneficial for the Netherlands to create a safer internet,” he said.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Dr Carel Richter, Consul General of the Netherlands in HCMC, said “This collaboration should deepen expertise and stimulate dialogues towards global and sustainable cybersecurity solutions, for example under the Global Forum for Cyber Expertise, where Australia, Vietnam, Singapore and the Netherlands are members. Furthermore, we foresee a great opportunity with the Orange ASEAN Factory coming to HCMC in March 2019 to work with RMIT and TNO on next generation sustainability challenges.”

After the signing ceremony, a cybersecurity seminar was organized to discuss the cybersecurity implications as a result of a number of emergent technologies such as cryptocurrencies, blockchain, IoT and Cyber-physical Systems.

The seminar included a contribution by Professor Robert Kooij, principal research scientist at the Singapore University of Technology and Design.