The IC4 research group was established in 2018 from a collaboration between two Flemish research groups active in the field of industrial control, communication and cyber security. The Security & Privacy research team of the West Flanders University of Applied Sciences (Howest) and the XIAK expertise center of the University of Ghent (campus Kortrijk).
The Security & Privacy research group of the Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen originated from the training program “Computer & Cyber Crime Professional” which was the first of its kind within Flanders. The research group therefore has extensive experience with research, services and the organization of training courses within the cyber security domain.
XiaK is the West-Flemish expertise center for industrial automation in Kortrijk. Since its foundation in 2013, XiaK has supported Flemish industry with extensive knowledge and expertise in various automation topics, such as tracking & tracing, industrial communication, industrial software systems, etc.
These companies act as our sounding board. Each company contributes and guides our research through own experience and expertise. The first valorization of research results will also be prioritized for this group of companies.