A major new research centre focused on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) is set to open this week at the University of Wolverhampton, aiming to strengthen regional and national digital resilience.

The Centre for Cyber Resilience and Artificial Intelligence (CYBRAI) will be officially launched on Friday, serving as a strategic hub that brings together academia, government, and industry to address growing cyber threats and harness the potential of AI technologies.

University leaders say the new centre will play a vital role in tackling the increasing demand for expertise in the face of rising cyberattacks across the UK. According to the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025, 43% of businesses and 30% of charities reported experiencing a cyber breach or attack in the past year—impacting around 600,000 businesses and 60,000 charities.

CYBRAI will focus not only on enhancing digital defences but also on helping organisations unlock productivity gains through AI—such as automating repetitive tasks and freeing up an estimated 20% of employee time.

Professor Prashant Pillai, Pro Vice-Chancellor at the university, commented:

The centre is also expected to support economic growth by fostering innovation and creating new partnerships across sectors, with AI central to both defensive strategies and business transformation.

The launch of CYBRAI comes amid a wave of high-profile cyberattacks in the UK, including incidents involving major retailers like Marks & Spencer, the Co-op, and Harrods, underscoring the urgent need for collaborative efforts in digital resilience.