Digital Engineering & Security

The objectives of this research programme are the emergence of new paradigms, technologies, methods and tools to design digital systems consisting in integrated hardware and software where security, dependability and energy efficiency are essential concerns. This affects the engineering complex digital systems based on components, building blocks and applications, such as embedded computer, component based service, hardware and software architecture, information system, and globally all means/supports for the design of applications and systems on the Internet.

Security stresses the design of high-confidence digital systems, their implementation and monitoring: anticipation of risks and vulnerabilities with cryptology, virology or modelling of security policies. The uncontrolled proliferation of connected digital systems also uses concepts such as protection insurance: "security by design". The goal and purpose are on dependability for critical systems, fidelity (brand reputation for products and services), the problems of energy consumption, the economy of software and hardware, i.e., the rationalisation of fabrication (costs, delays), without compromising the quality and by creating higher added value for products and services that differentiate from competitors: reusability, maintainability, durability.

This programme covers all facets of engineering as a continuum: from design to systems under supervision and control when operating. The design includes both the study and the development (specification, testing, verification, validation, certification, etc.). Engineering also means end-to-end conception processes, systems of systems approaches, hardware and software co-design, cyber-physical systems, including high-level abstraction models, hybrid (discrete and continuous), components and architectures (MEMS, FPGA, SoC, SIP, NoC, etc.) linked to software engineering (modelling/implementing, implicating the end-user: requirements management, easy-to-use), environments and tools of hardware and software design (simulation, evaluation), quality (reliability, performance, energy-efficiency, ability to scaling, autonomy, etc.).

The themes of this call are: