Stuttgart/Munich, January 2026 - In the FOKUS research project, asvin GmbH is working with the East Bavarian Technical University of Regensburg (OTH) and ibi research GmbH at the University of Regensburg to develop an AI-supported platform for recording, analysing, prioritising and defending against cyber attacks. The project is funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy as part of the ‘BayVFP Funding Line for Digitalisation – Information and Communication Technology’ and will run from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2028. The aim is to create a system environment that allows users to act quickly and effectively in cyberspace.
The situation: complex cyber threats and limited resources as a key challenge.
Cyber threats are developing at an increasingly rapid pace, are highly complex and affect organisations regardless of size or industry. While large companies have specialised security teams, many smaller organisations lack effective methods for continuously monitoring, assessing and responding to threats. Traditional CTI approaches are often fragmented, labour-intensive or require a high level of expertise. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular are defenceless against cybercriminals because they lack human and financial resources.
In addition, organisations are confronted with a growing flood of security-relevant data from internal and external sources. Manual processing and analysis of this information is time-consuming and error-prone, often resulting in threats being detected too late or incorrectly prioritised. Compliance requirements such as NIS2 or the Cyber Resilience ACT (CRA) exacerbate the problem.
The solution: holistic threat detection and defence using AI.
FOKUS addresses these challenges with an AI-powered, context-sensitive platform that not only quickly evaluates all threat information, but also models organisation-specific threat landscapes. Security measures are developed for the four central cybersecurity domains – prevention, detection, response and attribution. This allows security risks to be identified and remedied at an early stage, ongoing attacks to be detected, automated countermeasures to be derived and attackers to be identified.
The kick-off for the research project took place on 20 November 2025 at the OTH Regensburg premises.
Kick-off – from left: Dr Stephan Weber (ibi research), Prof. Dr Rudolf Hackenberg (OTH Regensburg), Philipp Fuxen (OTH Regensburg), Gerhard Steininger (asvin), Max Habazettl (ibi research). Photo: asvin/Gerhard Steininger
About asvin:
asvin GmbH is a leading global provider of models and analyses in the fields of cybersecurity, risk management and CTI. The team consists of internationally experienced experts who develop new approaches to cyber risk modelling and analysis in close dialogue between research and industry. R&D results have attracted national and international attention and success. In 2023, asvin was recognised and awarded by the Indian government as a leading young cybersecurity company in the G20 nations.
Further information: www.asvin.io
About OTH Regensburg:
OTH Regensburg is one of the leading universities of applied sciences in Bavaria and has a strong research focus in the field of cybersecurity. The cybersecurity laboratory, headed by Prof. Dr. Hackenberg, has extensive experience in nationwide and state-wide research projects. The group's research focuses on automotive cybersecurity, IoT cybersecurity, CTI, AI-supported cybersecurity applications and digital forensics. In addition, the group is intensively engaged in side-channel analysis and cybersecurity testing in order to identify and remedy security vulnerabilities in hardware and software systems at an early stage.
Further information: www.oth-regensburg.de
About ibi research:
ibi research GmbH is an application-oriented research institute active throughout Germany with over 30 years of experience at the interface between science and practice. It has in-depth expertise in the areas of digitalisation, information security, financial services and regulatory requirements. A particular focus is on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, with which ibi research develops practical, economically viable and regulatory-compliant solutions.
The research spectrum ranges from market analysis and business model development to process design and data analytics to issues of governance and compliance. At the same time, ibi research offers comprehensive consulting services for the implementation of research and project results.
Further information: www.ibi.de
Konrad Buck
Head of Press and Media Relations
Background & Expert Access for Media
- Product & technology insights – technical context, solution architecture, and real-world use cases for professional and trade media
- Expert commentary & background talks – our CEO is available as an expert source on current cybersecurity developments, threat landscapes, and the impact of AI on security and regulation
I speak openly, fact-based, and without PR spin. I am a former IT journalist with decades of experience in the IT and cybersecurity space, familiar with the highs and lows of the industry. Off-the-record discussions are possible upon request.
