A Lancaster PhD student has won an award aimed at identifying the most promising commercial opportunities for innovative cybersecurity projects at UK universities.

CyberASAP (Cyber Security Academic Startup Accelerator Programme) is an Innovate UK-funded initiative designed to help academic researchers transform their cybersecurity research into commercially viable businesses. The programme provides training, mentorship, and industry engagement opportunities to develop solutions that address critical cybersecurity challenges.

Physics PhD student Gizem Acar said: "I’m incredibly grateful for this award which is a huge encouragement and an exciting opportunity.

“This recognition is particularly meaningful as I am the first researcher from Lancaster University’s Physics Department to be selected for CyberASAP, as well as the first woman and the first early-career researcher from the University.

“Seeing the PhD project I started with so much passion and enthusiasm now moving toward commercialisation is truly rewarding.”

Current encryption methods for banking, messaging and data storage risk becoming vulnerable to quantum computing.

One promising solution is Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), a technology that secures information using the fundamental laws of quantum physics instead of mathematical complexity.

However, for QKD to work effectively, there needs to be a reliable single-photon source. Gizem is developing Quantum Ring Single-Photon Light-Emitting Diodes (QR SPLEDs), a new type of light source that overcomes one of the biggest challenges in making QKD practical.

“It’s amazing to see quantum technologies and cybersecurity coming together, and I can’t wait to see where this journey leads. I’m really looking forward to learning from industry experts, connecting with like-minded innovators, and taking the next steps toward turning this technology into something that can truly make a difference.”

The award follows on from Gizem’s selection last year for the CyberASAP Pathfinder Training Programme, an intensive workshop designed to provide commercialisation insights. This enabled her to connect with industry experts, gain mentorship, and explore how my research can be transformed into practical technology.

This is the third CyberASAP award for Lancaster University, with previous award winners including Charles Weir - Lancaster University and Peter Garraghan - Lancaster University.