PORGiESOFT Announces Academic Partnership with University of South Wales Cyber Security to Strengthen UK’s Fraud Protection Research and Skills Pipeline

November 1, 2023 (Cambridge, UK) – PORGiESOFT Security, a national security startup focused on AI-powered fraud detection, today announced a strategic academic partnership with the University of South Wales (USW) Cyber Security programme. The collaboration will provide live research projects, industry briefs and real-world problem statements to USW’s undergraduate and postgraduate cyber security students, bridging the gap between academic learning and national-scale fraud prevention. The academic partnership will also include opportunities for joint research workstreams on cyber security and fraud.

Fraud affects millions of citizens annually and is costing the UK economy an estimated £200 billion each year. Smishing, phishing, and impersonation attacks are rising sharply, with cybercriminals exploiting weak communication channels and social engineering tactics to deceive the public. Addressing this challenge requires not only innovative tools but also a new generation of cyber talent equipped to defend citizens and critical infrastructure.

Building an Industry-Academic Bridge

Through this partnership, PORGiESOFT Security will explore engaging with USW Cyber Security via:

• • Live Project Briefs – Students will tackle real-world fraud challenges, from smishing detection to fraud governance, supervised by USW faculty and supported by PORGiESOFT Security experts.
  • Dissertation Research Opportunities – Final-year BSc and MSc students will contribute to PORGiESOFT’s ongoing fraud intelligence and fraud awareness programmes, feeding into national-scale initiatives.
  • Guest Lectures & Industry Insights – PORGiESOFT Security leadership will provide seminars, lectures and Q&A sessions, sharing perspectives from their work with NCSC, global banks, and government.
  • Joint Research Initiatives - PORGiESOFT Security will lead and collaborate with USW on upcoming industry research projects where possible

“USW has a strong reputation for producing cyber graduates with industry-ready skills and has been named Cyber University of the Year,” said George Brown, CEO of PORGiESOFT. “By working together, we can give students the chance to apply their skills to one of the UK’s most urgent challenges – protecting enterprises and consumers from fraud – while also creating a talent pipeline that benefits the entire cyber security ecosystem.”

Mutual Benefits

For PORGiESOFT, the collaboration provides access to new ideas, innovative research, and potential graduate talent. For USW students, the projects offer hands-on experience working with a company developing fraud intelligence assets that are shaping national security strategy.

“PORGiESOFT collaborating with us in an academic partnership not only offers an opportunity to nurture talent but also provides PORGiESOFT access to a valuable resource pool for the future. Our university places a strong emphasis on forging partnerships with organisations, which makes us stand out from most other academic institutions, enabling us to provide our students with unique opportunities to develop industry ready knowledge, skills and experiences. We would love to have PORGiESOFT join us in an academic partnership as PORGiESOFT's position within the industry would greatly enhance the teaching and learning of our academics and students” said a spokesperson from USW Cyber.

A Shared Mission

The partnership aligns with PORGiESOFT’s broader mission of combining AI-driven solutions, fraud awareness, and intelligence sharing to protect assets and citizens. It also reflects NCSC’s focus on strengthening the UK’s cyber resilience by ensuring both technology and talent are fit for purpose in the fight against fraud.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES - www.southwales.ac.uk

The University of South Wales (USW) is a large, modern public university based in Wales, with campuses in Cardiff, Newport, and Pontypridd. USW offers over 300 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes spanning a wide range of subject areas. The university is known for its practice-led teaching, strong employer partnerships, and focus on preparing students for careers by integrating real-world experience into its curricula. With more than 23,000 students and a staff body dedicated to supporting student success, USW combines academic strength with an environment that is collaborative, applied, and impactful.

ABOUT PORGiESOFT

Founded in Cambridge in 2018, PORGiESOFT Security builds AI-first fraud intelligence digital assets and financial education solutions to protect citizens, institutions, and infrastructure from smishing, phishing, scams, impersonation, and cyber-fraud. Backed by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC, part of GCHQ), PORGiESOFT partners with industry, academia, and government agencies to fight cybercrime at scale.