About SERENE-RISC

The Smart Cybersecurity Network (SERENE-RISC) is a knowledge mobilization network created to enable people to protect themselves against cyber threats and minimize their consequences. SERENE-RISC is a non-profit organization (NPO) funded by the federal Networks of Centers of Excellence in May 2014 and hosted by the University of Montreal at the International Center for Comparative Criminology (ICCC).

To do this, SERENE-RISC relies on knowledge mobilization, a multidisciplinary approach to transfer knowledge from their point of creation to the end users. Knowledge mobilization thus reinforces the links between research, policy and practice.

SERENE-RISC brings together more than 40 academics from 9 disciplines and spread across 24 post-secondary institutions across Canada, Quebec, Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia and Nova Scotia, as well as more than 24 members from the public and private sectors and six NPOs.

Network vision

SERENE-RISC aims to be a platform for information exchange on cybersecurity that is factual, impartial, inclusive and mobilizing, and aims to promote and share the cutting-edge knowledge of research on risks, threats and solutions around cybersecurity.

Mission statement

By making the most current and relevant results of cybersecurity research more widely available, the Network strives to:

  • Enhance the ability of Canadian businesses and government agencies to manage cyber risks and help citizens and consumers protect themselves from cyber security threats.

  • Bring together the scattered knowledge of the fields of engineering and social sciences to contribute to the design and implementation of effective cybersecurity solutions.

  • Increase the capacity of partners to anticipate, identify, measure, prevent and disrupt situations of vulnerability and attack.

  • Increase the resilience of the Canadian digital ecosystem by providing better technical, social and regulatory remedies to deal with adverse situations.

  • Increase public awareness of cybersecurity risks and educate the public to reduce these risks.

Values and objectives

SERENE-RISC bases its orientations, actions and decisions on values and objectives centered around:

  • INCLUSIVITY 
  • IMPARTIALITY
  • EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE (EBP)
  • INNOVATION AND EMPOWERMENT