Sweden Launches Europe's Most Advanced Hub for Automotive Cyber Security

Europe’s most advanced cyber security initiative dedicated to vehicle testing has been launched by RISE, the Research Institutes of Sweden. RISE Cyber Test Lab for Automotive enables the automotive industry to test vehicles by using the latest in cyber technology and the world’s most rigorous testing methods.  

It will offer a range of unprecedented insights, methods and test beds in collaboration with telecom experts and ethical hackers. The partnership is aimed at tackling what has become a key concern for manufacturers competing to build connected vehicles.

The Lab will test vulnerabilities across key areas – virtual testing/digital twins, embedded software in vehicle units (ECU), and vehicle cloud-based software.

The RISE Cyber Test Lab will start advanced testing by the beginning of 2023. 

In preparation, pilot projects are already in full swing, simulating cyber-attacks on vehicles and electric vehicles charging infrastructure.

Pia Sandvik, CEO of RISE, says: “We are deploying a world leading hub with several test beds and scientists together with carefully selected partners. We will address the burgeoning cyber threatening around connected vehicles today and in the future. A single automotive manufacturer cannot work alone in finding ways to combat cyber-attacks. This must be done with the broadest range of expertise to ensure that the whole industry benefits from centralized research.” 

“It might sound controversial, but we firmly believe working with ethical hackers is critical in testing vehicles to their limits. The ethical hackers are selected partners from our existing Cyber Range in Stockholm. This launch of the Cyber Test Lab is especially important at a time when cyber-attacks and cyber threats against infrastructure and connected technology has become a fast-growing problem around the world.”  adds Tomas Bodeklint, Head of operations at Cyber Test Lab.

RISE is already hosting world leading proving grounds for road systems and research for self-driving vehicles at AstaZero and AWITAR, outside Gothenburg.