A NEW Scottish Government-backed initiative that gives small companies the chance to work with the public sector from their earliest days has launched a new challenge for developers and entrepreneurs to inspire the country’s cyber security agenda, writes Greg Russell.

The CivTech pilot has a mission to “stimulate innovation and daring in the public sector” by harnessing new technologies.

It has launched a “WildCard Challenge” to find new cyber security products and ideas for the public sector which have significant commercial potential in the fight against cyber threats and IT disruption.

One successful applicant will receive £15,000 in funding and a place on the pilot’s dedicated three-month accelerator programme in Edinburgh.

The idea is to get people thinking of cyber security in the widest terms and the WildCard Challenge wants solutions for any problem in the field. It follows a great response to the pilot’s first six challenges on the environment, health and transport, which launched in July.

Derek Mackay, cabinet secretary for finance and the constitution, said: “Threats in cyber security come in many guises. Equally, ways of combatting them come from varied sources.

“The Scottish Government-backed CivTech pilot presents a great opportunity for talented teams – whatever their size and background – to come forward with innovative ideas to address these issues, and give them appropriate support to accelerate their idea to commercial success in both the private and public sector markets.”

Martin Beaton, cyber security network integrator for Scotland, said the cyber security sector in Scotland “is brimming with opportunity”.

He added: “This project is about kick-starting cyber security innovation in Scotland.”

The deadline for WildCard Challenge applications is Monday September 5 at 9am.