First-rate cyber security teaching at the University of Southampton has been recognised with a prestigious Gold Award in a new government programme from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

Southampton is one of the first universities in the UK to be named an Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACE-CSE).

The Gold Award complements the University's existing status as a Centre of Excellence for Cyber Security Research, which it first obtained in 2012.

Under the leadership of Professor Vladimiro Sassone, Southampton has consolidated its expertise by launching a Cyber Security Academy as well as a dedicated Research Group in the School of Electronics and Computer Science.

The University's integrated undergraduate Master's degree in Computer Science with Cyber Security has been provisionally-certified by the NCSC - a part of GCHQ - and the full Master's degree in Cyber Security is now fully-certified.

Professor Sassone, Director of Southampton's Cyber Security Research Centre and Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair, says: "Southampton has delivered significant impact in cyber security research and education at regional, national and international levels for many years and this latest recognition by the NCSC only confirms our position as a world-leader in this very important field of study and activity.

"Very few universities in the UK - and around the world - can boast excellence in both cyber security research and education but my colleagues at Southampton, together with our many partners in academia and industry, have proven that we certainly do stand out in addressing the many cyber security threats we experience daily."

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Bioelectronics expertise from the University of Southampton is supporting the development of a benchtop gene printer in a growing partnership with the UK-based Nuclera biotech company.

Professor Hywel Morgan, Head of the Biomedical Electronics Research Group, is helping accelerate the pathway to commercialisation for the new instrument that can produce highly-customisable gene-length products in a day.

The new two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) will embed an Associate in the programme to focus on building up key functionalities, such as the novel sensing functions on the platform.

Having rapid access to highly accurate DNA, and its gene and protein sequences, will enable accelerated scientific discoveries and product development across a range of sectors, including medicine, agrobiotechnology and organism engineering.

Dr Jiahao Huang, co-founder of Nuclera, says: "The desktop instrument we are developing is a major step forward for the local synthesis of genes. Being able to produce genes at the benchtop, with all of the control and time saving it offers, has huge market potential.

"The additional expertise and even closer working relationship afforded by this KTP grant will significantly strengthen a key area of our product development."

Professor Morgan’s expertise in bio-sensors and lab-on-a-chip technologies is supporting investigation of the specific engineering steps required to create the robust gene printer. A critical element is the incorporation of a borderless fluid movement platform to provide optimum process automation.

Professor Morgan says: "It is a great opportunity to work with Nuclera to realise their dream of developing a benchtop instrument that can produce genes on demand. I am very excited by the award of the KTP, and look forward to working with Nuclera and the KTN to deliver this exciting project."

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships aim to help businesses improve their competitiveness and productivity through better use of the knowledge, technology and skills held within the UK knowledge base. This KTP project received financial support from UKRI through Innovate UK.

Jody Chatterjee, Knowledge Transfer Adviser, Knowledge Transfer Network, says: "This is an exciting project with an ambitious and innovative company. Nuclera is looking to transform the industry with its novel technology and the KTP is the perfect programme to help this happen. I am looking forward to working with the team as they deliver their game-changing desktop gene printer."