Ontario Tech University Receives Federal Funding for Cybersecurity Projects

Ontario Tech University in Oshawa will receive nearly $560,000 in federal funding over four years for two cybersecurity research projects, according to a university announcement dated November 27, 2024.

The university said the projects are part of the National Cybersecurity Consortium’s (NCC) Cyber Security Innovation Network program, which awarded $22.8 million to 37 projects across Canada this year. According to the NCC, the program aims to support research and development, commercialization of new technology, and training in cybersecurity fields.

According to the university, the first project attracted $175,294 and focuses on cybersecurity at electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The project is led by Dr. Li Yang, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Business and Information Technology, with collaborators from Ontario Tech, Western University, and the Automotive Centre of Excellence. The university said the team will research intrusion detection systems for EV charging stations using artificial intelligence methods such as AutoML, TinyML, and federated learning.

The university stated that the goal is to address security issues as EV charging stations become more common, as existing cybersecurity mechanisms have limitations in detecting new threats. According to Ontario Tech, the research team includes Dr. Khalil El-Khatib, Professor at Ontario Tech, and Dr. Katarina Grolinger, Associate Professor at Western University.

A second project, which the university said received $382,353, will investigate how generative artificial intelligence models can be used in malware development and defense. Led by Dr. Pooria Madani, Assistant Professor at Ontario Tech, and in collaboration with faculty from Ontario Tech, York University, and the university’s Faculty of Science, the study will examine how AI models such as generative pre-trained transformers (GPT) could automate code mutations, producing new forms of malware. Project materials describe generative AI as having the potential to automate code changes that can evade traditional malware detection. According to the project summary, the team will also seek to develop strategies to counter these threats.

The university said both projects will be conducted under the Institute for Cybersecurity and Resilient Systems at Ontario Tech, which serves as a centre for research and teaching on cybersecurity.