Cyber Security

The protection of internet-connected systems, including hardware, software and data, from cyberattacks

Crossword wins Innovate UK Grant to investigate Manufacturing Supply Chain Risk

Crossword Cybersecurity Plc (AIM:CCS, “Crossword”, the “Company” or the “Group”), the technology commercialisation company focused  on cyber security and risk management, is pleased to announce that it has won an Innovate UK  grant for £157,612 to investigate the issues around effective Manufacturing Supply Chain risk management and possible solutions.  Specifically we want to identify reasons why, according to GOEDIS 2017 Supply Chain Worldwide survey, only 6% of companies have achieved full supply-chain visibility.  Crossword, its Academic Partner, and two well-known British Manufacturing businesses, will investigate the reasons why organisations are reluctant to share details of their supply chains with their customers, and propose solutions based around its Rizikon Assurance platform to these problems.

Organisations need to control all risks in their supply chains, including for example cyber security, business continuity and modern slavery. The shift to more dynamic supply chains driven by Just In Time Manufacturing, COVID-19, Brexit and changing Environmental Social and Governance requirements has intensified this need.  The lack of full supply chain visibility is restricting organisations’ ability to identify and manage their supply chain risk.  Crossword’s portion of the grant awarded by the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund is £157,612.  The Industrial Strategy Challenge aims to bring together the UK’s world leading research with business to meet the major industrial and societal challenges of our time. The fund was created to provide funding and support to UK businesses and is run by Innovate UK and the Research Councils on behalf of UK Research and Innovation.

Jake Holloway, Chief Product Officer at Crossword Cybersecurity PLC, said: “We believe that a radically new approach to supply chain risk management can improve the UK’s economic performance significantly.  This feasibility study will look at the root causes of why manufacturing businesses can’t always have full supply chain visibility, often caused by commercial confidentiality and lack of standards in supply chain risk systems.  We’ll propose and prototype solutions – be they methods, standards or systems, with our Academic and Manufacturing partners, and then plan on incorporating the solutions into our Rizikon product family.”