Infosecurity Europe will introduce a new Cyber Startup Programme at its 2–4 June 2026 show at ExCeL London, adding a dedicated show-floor “Cyber Startups Zone”, a founder-focused conference stream, and a live pitching competition intended to pull early-stage vendors closer to enterprise buyers.
As factories, utilities, and logistics networks push deeper into connected operations — from remote maintenance to data-driven production optimisation — the boundary between IT security and operational technology (OT) resilience keeps getting thinner. That creates a market for specialist tools that can survive legacy equipment, segmented networks, and unforgiving uptime requirements, while still meeting modern security expectations.
Brad Maule-ffinch, Event Director at Infosecurity Europe, said: “Supporting early-stage innovation is essential to the future of cybersecurity, and being able to play a meaningful role in spotlighting upcoming innovative and disruptive technologies is a role we are keen to foster and grow. With the launch of the Cyber Startup Programme, Infosecurity Europe is creating new opportunities for startups to gain visibility, connect with investors and buyers and use it as a platform to grow too.”
The programme is being delivered in collaboration with UK Cyber Flywheel, with a dedicated day of founder and investor content, networking, and the live award competition scheduled for Tuesday 2 June. The Cyber Startup Award will see finalists pitch live, with the winner announced on the day, and the overall prize package includes a free exhibition stand at Infosecurity Europe 2027, plus PR and branding support.
Munawar Valiji, CISO and Cyber Advisor representing UK Cyber Flywheel, said: “Cybersecurity is crucial for the UK to protect its critical infrastructure, economy and citizens from increasingly sophisticated state-sponsored and criminal cyberattacks. Through the Cyber Flywheel, and in partnership with CISOs, founders, investors and government, we are focused on building a better connected, stronger and more resilient cyber ecosystem across the UK and beyond. The Cyber Startup Programme at Infosecurity Europe plays an important role in bringing these communities together and accelerating innovation where it matters most,”
Alongside the startup programme, the event will again run its Cyber Innovation Zone in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, which is intended to spotlight micro, small, and medium-sized cybersecurity businesses.
For plant operators and industrial suppliers shopping for security capability, that combination — early-stage startups on one side, government-backed SME innovation on the other — is a useful signal of where UK cyber priorities are being steered. Expect plenty of noise around AI-driven detection and response, but the industrial buying question remains the same: can the technology be deployed safely, integrated with existing OT networks, and maintained without turning a plant outage into an IT ticket.
Entries for the Cyber Startup Award require a written submission of up to 1,000 words, covering the company, product details, and competitive differentiation. Visitor registration for the event is free until 12 May, after which entry costs £49, including access to the exhibition floor and conference theatres.
