Boeing and Ben-Gurion University Launch Aviation Cybersecurity Research Center in Israel

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Boeing, a leading global aerospace company, today announced the establishment of a pioneering research collaboration focused on advancing cybersecurity capabilities for next-generation aviation and aerospace systems.

The collaboration will advance proactive cybersecurity research for autonomous, digital, and connected aerospace systems. The partnership will develop innovative security architectures, secure communication systems, resilient autonomous platforms, and trusted technologies for future aviation platforms.

“Aviation and space systems are becoming more autonomous, digital, and connected,” said Dr. Brendan Nelson, President of Boeing Global. “Partnering with Ben-Gurion University, one of the world’s foremost centers in cybersecurity and advanced engineering, helps us stay at the leading edge of secure aerospace innovation.”

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev President Prof. Daniel Chamovitz, "The establishment of this cybersecurity research center with Boeing is an important milestone for Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. This partnership exemplifies how a deep connection between breakthrough academic research and a leading international corporation advances innovation, strengthens the Negev as a leading technological center, and trains the next generation of cybersecurity experts for the benefit of Israeli and global society."

Boeing and BGU, through its tech transfer company BGN, have signed a multi-year framework agreement to launch a pioneering research collaboration in aviation cybersecurity.

The five-year agreement, valued at over USD $10 million, establishes a dedicated research center designed to explore and secure next-generation aviation and space systems amid increasingly complex cyber-physical environments.

“This agreement reflects the strength of BGU’s research ecosystem and its global leadership in cybersecurity, AI, and related technologies,” said Prof. Dan Blumberg, VP of Regional and Industrial Development at BGU. “Together with Boeing, we will explore the frontier of aviation cybersecurity and develop new capabilities that strengthen the entire aerospace industry.”

The collaboration will operate within the facilities of CBG, Ben-Gurion University’s Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, enabling BGU researchers, graduate students, and Boeing experts to jointly tackle these challenges.

“Boeing is a natural partner for BGU. Years of collaborating with global leaders on their most critical cybersecurity challenges, in various fields, provide a solid foundation for addressing Boeing’s aviation cybersecurity needs. This collaboration is poised to advance new security capabilities for the next generation of aviation technologies while using the latest AI developments,” said Prof. Yuval Elovici, Head of the BGU’s Cyber Security Research Center.

Dr. Nelson and President of Boeing Israel Ido Nehushtan attended a ceremony today to inaugurate the new Boeing–BGU Cybersecurity Research Center of Excellence.

Nehushtan noted, “The collaboration between Ben-Gurion University and The Boeing Company will pave the way for Israel’s most advanced technologies and capabilities to be incorporated into future generations of aviation and space systems worldwide. Boeing continues to be the main supplier of passenger planes to Israeli airlines, foremost among them EL AL, and a leading supplier of fighter jets, missiles, helicopter gunships, satellites and other advanced military supplies to the IDF. Israeli industries are now leading suppliers to Boeing, and many Israeli systems integrated into Boeing products worldwide generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually."

The initiative was facilitated by BGN, the University’s technology transfer and commercialization company, creating new pathways for research impact, talent development, and technological advancement.

About Boeing
A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.

About BGN
BGN is the technology transfer company of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), delivering innovation from the desert to the world.

By connecting world-class research with leading global technology partners, BGN transforms scientific discoveries into innovative technologies, startups, and collaborations.
With a vast portfolio of patents, spin-off companies, and strategic partnerships spanning fields such as cybersecurity, robotics, biotechnology, energy, agtech, and quantum research, BGN brings inventions from the labs of Beer-Sheva, Sde Boker, and Eilat to markets across the globe.