OREANDA-NEWS. Eugene Kaspersky, chairman and CEO of Kaspersky Lab, has been appointed a member of the International Advisory Panel for the National Cybersecurity R&D Programme in Singapore. The objective of the programme is to develop cybersecurity R&D capabilities in the city-state to allow it to tackle the emerging threats and challenges it faces in cyberspace.

The research program is a collaboration between several Singaporean government agencies, including the Economic Development Board, Ministry of Home Affairs, Infocomm Development Authority, Ministry of Defence, and National Security Coordination Secretariat. The government has allocated 130 million Singapore dollars (US$95 million) for cybersecurity-related R&D over five years.

The International Advisory Panel will provide insight into emerging global trends and advise on promising technology areas to meet strategic needs and ensure future capabilities in cybersecurity. Besides Eugene Kaspersky, the panel includes other thought leaders from government, academia and industry: Professor Howard Schmidt, former Cyber Advisor to U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama; Israeli military scientist, Professor Yitzhak Ben-Israel; former UK Government Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Sir John Beddington; Professor Quek Tong Boon, Singapore’s Chief Defence Scientist at the Ministry of Defence; Professor Lui Pao Chuen, Advisor to Singapore’s National Research Foundation; and Khoo Boon Hui, Senior Fellow with Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs.

Singapore is one of the wealthiest nations in the world in GDP per capita terms, it is a major global commerce and financial centre, and home to the world’s second busiest seaport. It stands high in various international rankings on ease of doing business and the level of development of information and communication technologies.

Commenting on his appointment, Eugene Kaspersky said: “It is a great honour for me to become a member of this panel. My company has vast experience in fighting malware and researching the most advanced cyberattacks that take place in the world. I am looking forward to sharing this expertise to help shape Singapore’s R&D investment in cybersecurity to help it be ready for the threats of tomorrow.

Singapore is a small but very important advanced country. It is often a step ahead of the rest of the world in many regards, and its strategic approach to cybersecurity is something other nations should follow.

The great thing about this advisory panel is that it brings together academics, government officials and people from private business like me. I believe this is the perfect mix – one that will provide valuable insight into the future of cybersecurity.

Singapore is fast becoming a truly digital nation, and achieving a high level of cybersecurity through developing strong capabilities is vital in guaranteeing its sustainable development.”

Eugene Kaspersky was educated in mathematical engineering in the 1980s. He began his career in cybersecurity accidentally when his computer became infected with the ‘Cascade’ virus in 1989. Eugene’s specialized education in cryptography helped him analyse the encrypted virus, understand its behaviour, and then develop a removal tool for it.

In 1997 Eugene and a group of associates founded Kaspersky Lab, which now has almost 3300 employees, 37 regional offices, and operates all over the world.

Eugene’s appointment as a member of the International Advisory Panel for the National Cybersecurity R&D Programme is effective from April 1, 2016.