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As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms cybersecurity, creating both powerful new tools and unprecedented new threats, 91��Ƭ�� is helping shape what comes next. Through the Coastal Virginia Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (COVA CCI), the University is bringing together researchers, students, industry and government partners to advance cybersecurity innovation across the region. 

As part of a statewide initiative, COVA CCI is leading workforce development, innovation and research that supports state and national cybersecurity needs through collaborations with institutions throughout Coastal Virginia. From supporting intercollegiate research to engaging students in hands-on learning, COVA CCI advances 91��Ƭ��’s mission by creating opportunities for students, researchers and industry professionals in cybersecurity, autonomous systems and intelligence.  

“COVA CCI has been instrumental in advancing both our research and educational mission,” said Daniel Takabi, Ph.D., director of the School of Cybersecurity and COVA CCI. “It has supported research programs as well as educational initiatives, including graduate assistantships for our Ph.D. students, the student Security Operations Center, the Cyber Clinic, experiential learning opportunities and undergraduate research.”  

COVA CCI’s latest investment in six collaborative research projects focusing on agentic AI security demonstrates how the initiative is taking action to promote advancement in the field and assist in building research capacity in the region.  

These projects were awarded $480,000 to support intercollegiate teams of researchers addressing the security of agentic AI, autonomous transportation and trustworthy communications among AI agents. They bring together researchers from 91��Ƭ��, William & Mary and Christopher Newport University.  

Learn more about the projects on the . 

“As we enter the era of the Internet of Agents (IoA), where autonomous AI agents communicate and coordinate with each other, security must be the foundational architecture, not an afterthought,” Dr. Takabi said. “By funding these strategic grants, we are empowering our researchers to build the next generation of autonomous systems that act with integrity, transparency and resilience.” 

Beyond advancing research in agentic AI security, the projects strengthen the collaborative network that positions faculty to pursue larger federal funding opportunities and address complex cybersecurity challenges. By connecting researchers across institutions and disciplines, COVA CCI is building research capacity throughout the region while creating opportunities for early career faculty, graduate and undergraduate students and industry partners to contribute to the next generation of cybersecurity innovation.

As cybersecurity continues to evolve, COVA CCI is helping ensure 91��Ƭ�� remains at the forefront of collaborative research, workforce development and innovation, preparing students and researchers to address emerging challenges that extend far beyond the classroom.