RBOC N+ - Resilience Beyond Observed Capabilities

Started

Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Energy system analysis)
Not Energy Related

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Applied Mathematics)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Statistics and Operational Research)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Civil Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Architecture and the Built Environment)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Politics and International Studies)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Psychology)

Not Cross-cutting
Systems Analysis related to energy R&D (Other Systems Analysis)

Professor D McIlhatton
Ctr for Trust Peace & Social Relatio
Coventry University

Standard

EPSRC

21 March 2022

30 October 2026

55 months

£2,079,573

Medical & health interface

West Midlands

Defence Academic Pathways

Professor D McIlhatton, Ctr for Trust Peace & Social Relatio, Coventry University

Professor E Barrett, Social Sciences, University of Manchester
Professor JV Condell, Sch of Computing & Intelligent Systems, University of Ulster
Professor E Gaura, Ctr for Flow Measure & Fluid Mechanic, Coventry University
Professor M Innes, Sch of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
Mr A Janjeva, Homeland Security and Resilience, Royal United Services Institute
Dr N Jansen, Sch of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
Professor M Levine, Psychology, University of Exeter
Dr JG Lindley, Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts, Lancaster University
Dr P Mancarella, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester
Professor R Monaghan, Ctr for Trust Peace & Social Relatio, Coventry University
Mr NEN Pinto, Environment, Education and Developmen, University of Manchester
Dr N Power, Psychology, Lancaster University
Professor D Shaw, Manchester Business School, University of Manchester
Mr J Sullivan, International Security Studies, Royal United Services Institute

Project Contact, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Project Contact, BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Limited
Project Contact, University of Strathclyde
Project Contact, PA Consultancy Services Ltd
Project Contact, Improbable Defence
Project Contact, International Leadership Association
Project Contact, Lancashire County Council
Project Contact, WHITESPACE VENTURES LIMITED
Project Contact, Ordnance Survey
Project Contact, University of Chichester
Project Contact, Cambridge Consultants

The RBOC (Resilience Beyond Observed Capabilities) Network Plus will create new knowledge, new capabilities and new opportunities for collaboration to help the UK prepare for security threats in the coming decades. The starting point is a scenario of a catastrophic attack on digital and energy networks in the year 2051. RBOC N+ will convene some of the UK's leading experts in engineering, physical sciences, mathematics, health sciences, social and behavioural sciences, arts and humanities, and cross-disciplinary topics such as AI, security studies and urban planning, together with government and industry, to refine, deepen and test this scenario and to use it to create immersive simulations.These simulations will support 'Reverse COBR' workshops, in which government, industry and academia will work back from the scenario's impacts to understand how they developed and what could have been done to prevent and mitigate them. This and other outputs - a flexible research fund, community events, an online platform developed and maintained by a project partner - will develop insights, innovate and create impact in response to possible and likely security threats and capabilities. Insights will come from the network's investigation into what capabilities, techniques and vulnerabilities could be exploited by adversaries to mount high-impact attacks against the UK, and what capabilities could be used by public authorities to prepare for and respond to them. Innovation will come from original research using novel combinations of disciplines and methods, from new relationships between researchers and policy makers and practitioners in government and industry, and from a prototype simulator for modelling the scenario with outputs addressing policy and practice implications, technology requirements and research gaps. Impact will come from the creation of new understanding and capabilities for government and industry to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate the impacts of major attacks from hostile actors through research, academic engagement, cross-sectoral partnerships and a host of technological, organisational, legal and behavioural capabilities ready for practitioner use. RBOC N+ will deliver a simulation toolkit with tools, concepts, definitions, problem spaces and a digital application designed specifically for policy-makers and practitioners. And RBOC's impact will be sustainable: RBOC's demonstrable return on investment will stimulate and support applications for continued funding, through grant applications and direct investment from industry, policy makers and practitioners. RBOC N+ will respond to eight challenge areas, each being an important theme of future security threats or responses. 'Adversary Capabilities' will investigate how the UK's enemies may be able to attack, while 'Our Capabilities' will address how the UK can prepare and respond, particularly through technology. The 'Physical Environment' challenge area will explore how cities will change by the 2050s, and 'Societal Challenges' will address potential developments in the social and political contexts. 'Responding and Decision-Making' will examine organisational and policy responses. 'Data, Information and Communications Infrastructure' will explore developments in enabling digital technologies, infrastructures and resources. To ensure that RBOC and its outputs manage security and ethical risks in ways that maintain trust, the final challenge area addresses 'Responsible Innovation and Trusted Research'

13/04/22