Boeing, Ben-Gurion University Launch Aviation Cybersecurity Center in Beersheba

The project, backed by a five-year, $10 million agreement, will operate out of BGU’s Cybersecurity Center of Excellence.

By Shula Rosen

Boeing and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have launched a joint aviation cybersecurity research initiative in Beersheba designed to confront the growing cyber risks facing modern aerospace systems.

The project, backed by a five-year, $10 million agreement, will operate out of BGU’s Cybersecurity Center of Excellence and bring together university researchers, graduate students, and Boeing engineers to develop protections for aircraft and space platforms that are becoming increasingly digital, automated, and interconnected.

At the core of the effort is the challenge of securing what experts describe as complex “cyber-physical” environments — systems where software, communications networks, sensors, and autonomous technologies intersect. The research will focus on building secure system frameworks, safeguarding communications, and strengthening the resilience of AI-driven and autonomous aviation technologies.

Dr. Brendan Nelson, president of Boeing Global, said in a press release that the evolution of aviation and space technologies has made cybersecurity a central factor in aerospace innovation. He noted that working with BGU, widely regarded for its cybersecurity and engineering research, positions Boeing to stay ahead of emerging threats.

BGU President Prof. Daniel Chamovitz called the partnership an important step in linking academic research with global industry needs. He said the center will not only advance innovation but also reinforce Beersheba’s role as a technology hub and train future cybersecurity experts.

The cooperation was structured through BGN, the university’s technology transfer company, to support sustained research collaboration. Prof. Dan Blumberg, BGU’s vice president for regional and industrial development, said the initiative reflects the university’s strengths in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence and expands its contribution to the aerospace field.

Prof. Yuval Elovici, who heads BGU’s Cyber Security Research Center, said the university’s experience addressing complex cybersecurity problems with international partners provides a strong foundation for tackling aviation-specific challenges.

The center was formally inaugurated at the Advanced Technologies Park adjacent to BGU’s Marcus Family Campus, in a ceremony attended by Nelson and Boeing Israel President Ido Nehushtan.

Nehushtan noted that Israeli technologies and suppliers already contribute hundreds of millions of dollars annually to Boeing’s civilian and defense aviation systems worldwide.