EXC 2092:  CASA: Securing the Digital Society

• Subject Area: Computer Science
• Term: since 2019
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 390781972

In recent years, cyberspace has embraced an ever-larger share of our lives, and the notion of the digital society has become a reality. At the same time, we observe massive qualitative and quantitative shifts in the cybersecurity landscape. The attack surface has expanded dramatically, with adversaries targeting a broad range of entities, including hospitals, government services, higher education institutions, and critical infrastructure. This is further aggravated by the evolution of nation-state attackers pursuing geopolitical goals such as election interference. Finally, the emergence of disruptive technologies like generative AI, quantum computing, and the growing popularity of blockchains and cryptocurrencies further amplifies the digital risks. This dramatic change in the cybersecurity landscape poses a fundamental threat to our society, jeopardizing democratic processes, critical infrastructures, and citizens’ privacy and well-being alike. CASA will significantly strengthen the resilience of the digital society by developing next-generation security solutions that holistically protect large-scale (socio-)technical systems. At the core of CASA is a highly innovative research program that comprehensively tackles the security of all layers of digital systems, focusing on carefully selected high-impact research topics. Examples include quantum technology and its interplay with security, methods to prevent AI-based voter polarization and misinformation, and cross-layer solutions to thwart ransomware attacks. CASA’s internationally unique approach combines technical aspects with human and societal dimensions of cybersecurity. The group of PIs is arguably the only one in Europe with the required interdisciplinary track record to conduct holistic cybersecurity research. The CASA PIs also have a long history of successful collaborations and world-class research achievements, including ten ERC grants and a DFG Leibniz Prize. Through the CASA Transfer Lab, we will systematically translate our research findings into real-world solutions, collaborating closely with our extensive network of transfer partners, including major technology companies, NGOs, and startups. CASA will support Early Career Researchers at all levels with specifically tailored measures. Moreover, CASA’s equity and diversity initiatives are designed to foster an inclusive research community where everyone can thrive and contribute meaningfully. CASA will be embedded into Bochum’s vibrant cybersecurity ecosystem, led by Ruhr-University Bochum, with the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy as a key partner. Bochum is home to Europe’s largest cybersecurity study program and Germany’s leading security startup landscape—a strong enabler for transferring research into practice. CASA will conduct transformative research with major real-world impact and leave a lasting legacy on the scientific community, serving as a blueprint for next-generation cybersecurity research.

• DFG Programme: Clusters of Excellence (ExStra)
• Applicant Institution: Ruhr-Universität Bochum
• Participating Institution: Max-Planck-Institut für Sicherheit und Privatsphäre (MPI-SP); Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn; Technische Universität Berlin; Universität Duisburg-Essen
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Gilles Barthe; Dr.-Ing. Asia Biega; Professor Dr. Kevin Borgolte; Professorin Dr. Meeyoung Cha; Professor Dr.-Ing. Lucas Davi; Professorin Dr. Asja Fischer; Professor Dr.-Ing. Tim Erhan Güneysu; Professor Ghassan Karame, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr.-Ing. Katharina Kohls; Professor Dr. Gregor Leander; Dr.-Ing. Giulio Malavolta; Professorin Dr. Karola Marky; Professorin Veelasha Moonsamy, Ph.D.; Professor Dr.-Ing. Christof Paar; Professor Dr. Konrad Rieck; Professorin Dr. Angela Martina Sasse; Professor Dr. Peter Schwabe; Professor Dr. Jörg Schwenk; Professor Dr. Jatinder Singh; Professor Dr. Matthew Smith; Professor Dr. Michael Walter; Professor Dr. Yuval Yarom; Professor Dr.-Ing. Muhammad Bilal Zafar; Professorin Dr. Yixin Zou
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Eike Kiltz