Loughborough University researchers have secured funding through the SPRITE+ Global Partners Programme to undertake a new international project exploring cyber resilience challenges across Africa in partnership with the Africa Cyber Defence Forum (ACDF). Led by Dr Yang Lu, the project will investigate how cyber resilience is understood, developed and implemented across different national and organisational contexts. The research will focus on the opportunities and challenges arising from rapid digital transformation, emerging technologies and evolving cyber security environments.
The initiative adds to Loughborough’s growing portfolio of internationally focused cyber resilience research and reflects the University's commitment to building impactful global partnerships. It also marks Rr Lu’s second Africa-focused resilience project to receive funding in 2026.
A key objective of the project is to strengthen dialogue between researchers, policymakers, practitioners and industry stakeholders working across the cyber resilience landscape. By engaging with a diverse range of perspectives, the research team hopes to develop a deeper understanding of how resilience is approached in different contexts and identify opportunities for future collaboration.
Dr Yang Lu said:
Africa is home to some of the world's most dynamic and rapidly evolving digital economies. Understanding cyber resilience within these contexts is increasingly important, not only for regional security and development but for informing global conversations about resilience, technology adoption and governance…Through our partnership with the Africa Cyber Defence Forum, we hope to build lasting relationships and identify opportunities for future collaborative research."
The first major activity of the project will be participation in the forthcoming Africa Cyber Defence Forum, where the team will engage with leaders from government, industry, academia and civil society from across the continent.
Reflecting on the importance of the project, researcher Andrew Peck added:
Cyber resilience is often discussed through the lens of national strategies or technical capability, but resilience is ultimately shaped by people, institutions and context. This project provides an opportunity to engage directly with practitioners and researchers working across Africa, to better understand the challenges they face and the approaches they are developing in response."
The project forms part of Loughborough University's growing portfolio of internationally focused cyber resilience research and reflects the University's commitment to building meaningful global partnerships that support both research excellence and real-world impact