Boeing and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) have announced the establishment of a joint research centre focused on cybersecurity for aviation and aerospace systems.

The collaboration will concentrate on research related to autonomous, digital and connected aerospace systems. Areas of work include security architectures, secure communications, autonomous platform resilience and trusted technologies for future aviation and space platforms.

“Aviation and space systems are becoming more autonomous, digital, and connected,” said Dr Brendan Nelson, President of Boeing Global. “Partnering with Ben-Gurion University, one of the world’s foremost centres in cybersecurity and advanced engineering, helps us stay at the leading edge of secure aerospace innovation.”

BGU President Prof Daniel Chamovitz said: “The establishment of this cybersecurity research centre with Boeing is an important milestone for Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. This partnership exemplifies how a deep connection between breakthrough academic research and a leading international corporation advances innovation, strengthens the Negev as a technological centre, and trains the next generation of cybersecurity experts for the benefit of Israeli and global society.”

The agreement between Boeing and BGU, through the university’s technology transfer company BGN, is a multi-year framework designed to support joint research activities in aviation cybersecurity.

Five-year agreement and research framework

The five-year agreement is valued at more than $10 million and provides for the creation of a dedicated research centre to study cybersecurity challenges in aviation and space systems operating in cyber-physical environments.

“This agreement reflects the strength of BGU’s research ecosystem and its global leadership in cybersecurity, AI, and related technologies,” said Prof Dan Blumberg, Vice President of Regional and Industrial Development at BGU. “Together with Boeing, we will explore the frontier of aviation cybersecurity and develop new capabilities that strengthen the aerospace industry.”

The collaboration will operate within the facilities of CBG, Ben-Gurion University’s Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. It will involve BGU researchers, graduate students and Boeing experts working jointly on research projects.

“Boeing is a natural partner for BGU. Years of collaborating with global leaders on their most critical cybersecurity challenges, in various fields, provide a solid foundation for addressing Boeing’s aviation cybersecurity needs,” said Prof Yuval Elovici, Head of BGU’s Cyber Security Research Center. “This collaboration is poised to advance new security capabilities for the next generation of aviation technologies while using the latest AI developments.”

Dr Nelson and Boeing Israel President Ido Nehushtan attended a ceremony marking the inauguration of the Boeing–BGU Cybersecurity Research Center of Excellence.

Nehushtan said: “The collaboration between Ben-Gurion University and The Boeing Company will pave the way for Israel’s most advanced technologies and capabilities to be incorporated into future generations of aviation and space systems worldwide. Boeing continues to be the main supplier of passenger planes to Israeli airlines, foremost among them EL AL, and a leading supplier of fighter jets, missiles, helicopter gunships, satellites and other military supplies to the IDF. Israeli industries are now leading suppliers to Boeing, and many Israeli systems integrated into Boeing products worldwide generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually.”

The initiative was facilitated by BGN, which is responsible for technology transfer and commercialisation at the university, with the aim of supporting research application, training and technology development.

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