The European Network for Cyber Security (ENCS; CTO: Klaus Kursawe) and the Information Technology Research Institute (ITRI; Director: Yoshio Tanaka) of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST; President: Ryouji Chubachi) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for information exchange and research cooperation related to cyber security for IoT systems, including smart grids and smart meters, on August 12, 2015, aiming at the development and broad use of effective cyber security measures for IoT systems.

ENCS is a non-profit organization that addresses cyber security issues of electricity and energy supply in Europe with emphasis on smart grids and smart meters. In parallel, AIST has started to develop national security guidelines, in collaboration with the power industry, to strengthen cyber security measures for smart meters. It aims to strengthen the guidelines by learning the knowledge pertaining to smart grid cyber security in Europe from ENCS and conducting research cooperation under the signed LOI. AIST will support ENCS’ activities by the knowledge obtained through the development of the guidelines. ENCS and AIST will apply their efforts to enhance smart meter cyber security to broader IoT technology in order to obtain results that support a safer and more secure society.

• ENCS

The European Network for Cyber Security (ENCS) is a non-profit organization that brings together critical infrastructure stakeholders and security experts to deploy secure European critical energy grids and infrastructure. Founded in 2012 in the Netherlands under the Cooperative Association law, ENCS has dedicated researchers and test specialists who work with members and partners on applied research, defining technical security requirements, component and end-to-end testing, as well as education & training.