We are in the midst of the shift toward ubiquitous computing. Mobile multimedia devices with DRM services, intelligent web applications, medical implants that communicate or car-to-car communication have become reality. Such ubiquitous applications are typically not confined to well-defined networks but communication takes place between small embedded nodes and the “cloud”, a large and often not well defined network consisting of PCs and servers. Many of the new applications are heavily dependent on security features, for instance telemedicine or intelligent traffic management. Many current security solutions are not applicable any more, e.g., because of a lack of clear network boundaries, resource-constrained devices or new security requirements like anonymous payment schemes on mobile tokens. The DFG-Research Training Group UbiCrypt was founded in 2012 as a project of the chairs and Research Groups of the Horst Görtz Institute for IT-Security of the Ruhr-University Bochum. The group connects young researchers from all fields related to IT-Security and brings together all career stages from research students to experienced professors. A central goal of the training plan is an interdisciplinary and structured Ph.D. phase with an innovative two-advisor concept, a close coupling with the RUB Research School and mandatory research visits at leading international research groups. A high quality education is assured by tailored graduate courses, seminars and annual summer schools.
