Hewlett Fund Gives $45-Million for Cybersecurity Initiative

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has awarded grants of $15-million each to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and the University of California, Berkeley, to develop cybersecurity policies for governments, businesses, and individuals, writes Campus Technology, a news site covering IT and higher education. Each campus will establish a cybersecurity center that brings together experts from diverse fields, including engineering, economics, anthropology, and political science.

The foundation said that while most cybersecurity research focuses on thwarting bad actors, its Cyber Initiative aims to help researchers explore long-term solutions that minimize threats and enhance trust in computer systems while addressing privacy concerns. “We view these grants as providing seed capital to begin generating thoughtful options,” Hewlett Foundation President Larry Kramer said.