HKU and Global Cybersecurity Alliance establish AI security research centre

The University of Hong Kong and the Global Cybersecurity Alliance established a joint research centre on October 19, 2026, bringing two connected problems under one roof: securing AI systems and using AI to defend against cyberattacks. The Centre for AI and Cybersecurity Research will also study risks in robotics and other emerging technologies.

A bridge between research and security testing

Professor Ho Chen, Chair of Cybersecurity at HKU’s School of Computing and Data Science, will serve as acting director. In the announcement, distributed by the Global Cybersecurity Alliance, Chen described AI’s rapid development as a source of new security risks and governance challenges.

The planned team will draw researchers from HKU, the alliance and international partner institutions. Experts in AI, cybersecurity and technology governance will take research and advisory roles, giving the centre a remit that spans technical work and the rules surrounding its use.

The Centre will serve as a bridge connecting academic research, security testing, and industry application to accelerate the translation and deployment of AI security research through cross-disciplinary and international cooperation.

Professor Ho Chen, incoming acting director

From model weaknesses to connected machines

• Model security: Research will seek to make large language models and generative AI more secure, easier to interpret and more robust.
• Automated cyber defence: The centre plans to use AI to improve the detection of complex cyberattacks and automated responses to them.
• Emerging technologies: Security assessments will cover embodied AI, including AI operating through physical systems, robotics and internet-connected devices.
• Standards and governance: Researchers will examine AI security assessment standards and governance mechanisms, with the stated aim of supporting international dialogue and collaboration.

Public tools are a planned output

The centre plans to progressively release research findings, security benchmarks and open-source tools in AI and cybersecurity. Those outputs are intended to connect academic work with industry practice, rather than leave the programme focused solely on research within the participating institutions.

The announcement sets out that publication plan but gives no timetable for the first findings, benchmarks or tools. The centre’s establishment is the completed step; its proposed research programme and releases remain ahead.