The NetworkPlus for Analytical Behavioural Science in Security and Defence (NABS+) has launched its second commissioning call, inviting research proposals addressing current challenges in UK security and defence.
The call covers the following five research themes:
- Organisational Resilience and Staff Wellbeing
- Trust and Reputation in Anonymous Online Spaces
- Socio-Cultural Beliefs and Decision-Making
- Hackers & AI
- Covert and Overt Surveillance in Law Enforcement
CRANE is collaborating with NABS+ on the Hackers & AI theme, supporting short, focused projects that examine how attacker behaviour may shape the development, testing and adoption of AI by threat actors.
Proposals should focus on one of two areas:
Bottlenecks in the attack pathway
Research should examine where attackers encounter genuine friction across different stages of cyber attacks; the technical, cognitive and organisational factors responsible; and which bottlenecks AI might realistically overcome in the near term.
Hacker ‘intuition’
Research should explore the contribution of tacit expertise and judgement to offensive cyber activity, how experienced adversaries acquire and use this expertise, and whether these forms of judgement constrain the automation of offensive activity.
Key Information:
Projects may include research synthesis, secondary analysis or original research, and should deliver transferable insights for defenders within six months.
Funding of up to £60,000 at 100% fEC (£48,000 at 80% fEC) is available.
Deadline: 17:00, 20 October 2026
To find out more including the application process and download the call submission documents, please visit the NABS+ call webpage using the link below.