-HGI News- Cluster of Excellence CASA receives funding for another seven years

Thu May 22 17:57:49 CEST 2025

Bochum, May 22, 2025

Cluster of Excellence CASA receives funding for another seven years

The German Research Foundation (DFG) <https://www.dfg.de/en> has announced that CASA<https://casa.rub.de/en/> will continue to receive funding for an additional seven years through the German Excellence Strategy by the federal and state governments, beginning in 2026. 'We are absolutely delighted with this positive decision,' said Prof. Dr. Eike Kiltz, CASA speaker, who leads the cluster together with Hub Leaders Prof. Dr. Ghassan Karame, Prof. Dr. Christof Paar and Prof. Dr. Angela Sasse. The cluster is based at the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security within the Faculty of Computer Science at Ruhr University Bochum. Partner institutions include the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy in Bochum, the Technical University of Berlin, the University of Bonn, and the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Strengthening the Resilience of the Digital Society

'CASA – Securing the Digital Society' aims to strengthen the resilience of our digital society. The emergence of disruptive technologies in recent years, especially artificial intelligence and quantum computers, has caused substantial new challenges for cybersecurity research. In the second funding phase, CASA will specifically address these challenges. Thematic priorities include the security of quantum technologies, protection against AI-based disinformation and societal polarization, and new approaches to defending against ransomware.

"To address real threats in the digital space and beyond, CASA will deliver innovative cybersecurity research solutions. By doing so, we intend to make a significant contribution to safeguarding our society”, Eike Kiltz says. The cluster's research program is divided into six research hubs that cover all levels of digital systems, from quantum-resistant cryptography and the security of new technologies to the development of trustworthy software, decentralized applications and the human and societal aspects of cybersecurity.

CASA's interdisciplinary and globally unique holistic research approach was already a resounding success in the first funding period from 2019 to 2025. The cluster’s excellence is underlined by over 500 scientific publications since 2019, including more than 200 at top-tier A* cybersecurity conferences, as well as numerous international awards. These include the renowned DFG Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz prize, which is the most important scientific award in Germany, 14 ERC grants, five 'Test of Time' awards and the Hong Jin-Ki award.

Transfer and Support of Early-Career Researchers

In the upcoming funding period, an international team of outstanding researchers will collaborate across disciplines to further establish Bochum as a world-leading research location for cybersecurity. The focus remains on transferring research results into practice — a proven success model from the first funding phase. CASA collaborates closely with a wide network of partners, including major technology companies such as Google, Meta and Amazon, as well as international NGOs and start-ups from the Bochum innovation ecosystem and beyond.

Supporting early-career researchers is another key priority. Around 100 new positions for early-career researchers are expected to be created in the coming years. Thanks to its targeted career development programs and a strong commitment to diversity and equity, the cluster has been able to attract top international talent to Bochum for years and will reinforce these efforts in the upcoming funding period. CASA will continue to deliver pioneering research with sustainable real-world impact and serve as a blueprint for the future of cybersecurity research. The Cluster of Excellence RESOLV – Ruhr Explores Solvation, an interdisciplinary research project in the field of solvation science, co-hosted by Ruhr University Bochum and TU Dortmund, has also been granted continued funding.

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Kind regards

Christina Scholten

RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM

Horst Görtz Institut for IT Security/ Cluster of Excellence CASA

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E-Mail: christina.scholten at rub.de<mailto:christina.scholten at rub.de>

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