Focus on the startup scene in the San Francisco Bay Area
A press release from the Federal Office for Information Security
The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) and the Agentur für Innovation in der Cybersicherheit GmbH (Cyberagentur) have published a comprehensive study on the startup scene in the San Francisco Bay Area. As part of the pilot project, which was launched by BSI President Claudia Plattner in San Francisco in September 2023, BSI and Cyberagentur jointly analyzed the most important developments and technologies in the Bay Area’s cybersecurity industry. The aim of the study was to gain an overview of the most important start-ups, technologies and trends in the field of cybersecurity in order to enable a well-founded technology assessment, which in turn serves as a basis for decisions on future research funding from the German government.
The focus of the survey was on startups with a strong technology focus (cyber startups) that are active in the field of cyber security. Startups were the focus of the study as they often pave the way for new services and products for the market and act as drivers of innovation with the aim of changing the status quo As part of the analyses carried out, seven key technologies were identified, among others, which are used by the startups to varying degrees. Specifically, these were Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), image recognition, blockchain infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud technology, quantum computing and big data.
In this context, the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning is growing steadily alongside the cloud technology that dominates among start-ups. This reflects the willingness to use these powerful technologies observed in many industries. Quantum computing is beginning to be commercialized by start-ups based in the Bay Area. This suggests that the first business applications for quantum technology will soon appear on the market, despite the low level of technological maturity.
BSI President Claudia Plattner: “The choice of the Bay Area as the focus of this study is due to the globally recognized reputation of this region as a hotspot and birthplace of many startup success stories. With this study, we are continuing our mission as a central funding and coordination center for research projects in the field of cybersecurity and supporting the German federal government in the targeted strengthening of research in the field of cybersecurity.”
“We were able to contribute our experience in the creation of Startup Landscapes, including on Germany as a business location and various technology areas, to the study,”
says the Cyberagentur’s Research Director, Prof. Dr. Christian Hummert. “We saw this as an important basis for this cooperation with the BSI.”
In a follow-up project, detailed technology assessments in the field of cyber security are to be developed on the basis of the present study in order to further strengthen German cyber security research and develop innovative solutions for the challenges of the future.
Press contact:
Federal Office for Information Security
Press Office
Tel.: 0228-999582-5777
E-mail: presse@bsi.bund.de
Internet: www.bsi.bund.de