NASK National Research Institute

Overview

NASK is National Research Institute supervised by the Polish Ministry of Digital Affairs. The key activities of the institute are related to research and development especially in the area of cybersecurity, biometrics, ICT, ICS, IoT, AI, Big Data technologies, social networks as well to awareness rising and delivering innovative solutions to the government.

Ensuring the security of cyberspace on the national level is one of the main activities of NASK.  Cybersecurity Center and CERT Polska operating within the structure of NASK are tasked with responding to cyber security threats and incidents in the countrywide networks as well as reporting illegal and harmfull content on the internet especially for youngsters (Dyzurnet.pl). Functioning in the field of ICT and network security for 25 years working jointly with academia, we have vast experience and highly qualified R&D staff as well as access to the state of the art of telecommunication technologies. We introduced the Internet to Poland back in 1991 and now we are a driven force of digital revolution.

We create and actively participate in the work on standarization and certification of ICT security and on development of biometric technologies.

Cybersecurity Center and CERT Polska – one of the three CSIRTs on national level is responsible for essential services operators and digital services providers. CERT Polska is active since 1996 in the response teams community, it has become a recognized and experienced entity in the field of computer security and research. Since its launch, the core of the team’s activity has been handling security incidents and cooperation with similar units worldwide. CERT Polska also conducts extensive security-related R&D. Cybersecurity Center runs the ppp network called Partnership for Cybersecurity. Within the network we cooperate with near 50 most important industry entities, (mainly essential services sectors and SMEs), public administration and academia, so that to build the vibrant and secure digital single market in Poland.

As a result of CERT Polska successful activity, NASK has also became a pioneer in Poland introducing awareness raising activities in the field of internet safety for children and youth. Since 2005, NASK has been a leader in operating Polish Safer Internet Centre working jointly with partners and participating in joint European Insafe/INHOPE network.  We also participate in the European-wide projects connected with internet safety like Safer Internet Day or SafeInternet4EU.

As the Polish national registry of internet .pl domains we cooperate within Registry-Registrar-Registrant model with 212 partners (Registrars) from 24 countries and over 2,64mln. registered domains.

Using our unique knowledge and experience in the field of security, reliability and efficiency of the ICT network we deliver training, mentoring, consulting  and access to professional expertise in the field of cybersecurity as well as building and increasing digital technologies awareness.

NASK cooperates closely with Polish academia such as Warsaw University of Technology, Częstochowa University of Technology, Lodz University of Technology and Wroclaw University of Technology as well as Polish Research Institutes: National Institute of Telecommunication and Institute of Innovative Technologies, Military Institute of telecommunications and others. Cooperation is built on concrete projects in areas of cybersecurity, AI, ICS, electronic document processing, biometrics, etc.

NASK has been currently involved in many European and national projects supported by government - in particular 5FR, 6FR, 7FR, Horizon 2020, NATO Panels. NASK has been also actively participating in many Research and Development projects as part of international consortia eg. SISSDEN (Secure Information Sharing Sensor) where NASK operates as leader of the consortia as well as domestic projects co-financed by the National Centre for Research and Development  eg. NPC National Cybersecurity Platform - the goal of this project is to develop monitoring, detecting and warning system of for threats and incidents as well as supporting coordination of incident response on a national level, KS03 – national certification system based on Common Criteria, BIOmobi – remote mobile system for biometric authentication exploiting non-specialized mobile devices, OSE - National wide Telco Network for Education that will provide the secure internet network for all schools in Poland. We actively participate in the work on standarization of ICT security and on development of biometric technologies.

As an answer for EU Cybersecurity Act, NASK is also involved in a process of building ecosystem for cybersecurity certification (CertiSecPL initiative) -  which is based among others on mentioned above KSO3 project experience.

NASK carries out strategic projects for Polish public institutions in cooperation with central administration, research institutes and companies. For example we provide support and currently work on many innovative systems for public administration eg. EZD RP- electronic management of documents for government administration, mDokumenty - document verifying system stored on mobile phone.

Among others, the Internet of Things as well as Artificial Intelligence are the emerging issues undertaken by NASK. NASK for last two years conducted the project dedicated to safety and security challenges coming together with IoT technology with a special focus on smart connected toys. NASK Social Research Laboratory applies two simultaneous approaches toward the issue. First, by analyzing AI-related trends in the Polish economy and among business communities secondly, by studying general public’s attitude towards the AI revolution.

One of the top initiatives of NASK as the Centre of Competences in fields of the digital technologies is the SECURE Conference– with the longest tradition in Poland (launched in 1997)  and the broadest approach to the ICT security issues.

In 2016 NASK together with Ministry of Digital Affairs and two other national research institutes: National Institute of Telecommunication and Institute of Innovative Technologies created Scientific and Industrial ICT Center (CNPT). The aim of the CNPT is to coordinate the activities and building cooperation in area of R&D result implementation, development of research infrastructure, implementation of internship programs for employees, as well as joint acquisition and service of domestic and European research projects.

According to the Action Plan of the Ministry of Digitalization for Artificial Intelligence, the group of NASK research institute  has been indicated as the Digital Hub of Innovation for AI in Poland. Together with Ministry for Digital Affairs and daughter companies (eg. NASK4Innovation), we are  facilitating the uptake of  Artificial Intelligence in Poland,, which we believe will be equally revolutionary with the potential to change the world, improve the quality of life and bring economic profits. We intend to create strong synergy between academia, industry and government to build and support open, more competitive and resilient cyberspace to develop and expand Single Digital Market and Digital Europe. Digital technologies.