BMW Group Digitalization and IT Research Award – Video
The BMW Group has been an early driver of the digital transformation in the automotive industry, always intent on meeting the continuously changing needs of its customers. With regards to digital transformation, both the BMW Group and the entire automotive industry stand to benefit from the ongoing research in computer engineering. The award honors pioneering research in software development and information technology, specifically in artificial intelligence, big data, internet of things, cybersecurity, connectivity and autonomous driving.
With BMW ConnectedDrive, the BMW Group has been the leading automaker in intelligent connectivity for 20 years. The expansion of connectivity and services, together with automated driving and e-mobility, is among the key areas of activity the BMW Group has defined in its Strategy NUMBER ONE NEXT with the aim of driving the transformation. More than ten million connected cars have already been put on the road worldwide. The increasing lineup of connectivity services and features ranges from real-time traffic information, hazard warnings and emergency call systems to the integration of apps and remote services connected to mobile or smart home devices. Security and privacy are two key elements in the BMW Group’s product development process, driving connectivity within and beyond the vehicle. Along with increasing functionality and rapid technological progress in vehicle development, electronics and consumer devices, the complexity of the overall system also increases. In response to what has become a race between technological progress and new, presently unknown attack scenarios, the BMW Group has launched a comprehensive cybersecurity action plan, which includes tests conducted both internally by the BMW Group and with the help of independent institutions. Third parties increasingly play a crucial role in improving automotive security as they conduct their own in-depth tests of products and services.
Keen Security Lab, a professional security research lab under Tencent Holdings Limited, is a globally renowned and respected security research team whose highly specialized researchers have more than ten years of experience in cybersecurity for PCs and mobile devices. Tencent Keen Security Lab is actively involved in internal research and the development of security enhancement recommendations for the portfolio of online services, including social, payment, games and cloud, provided by its parent company, Tencent Group. Keen Security Lab believes transparency, sharing and industry cooperation are essential to foster a safe and secure world as the Internet becomes increasingly ubiquitous and entrenched in our everyday lives.
In recent years, Tencent Keen Security Lab expanded capabilities in new research areas including connected/intelligent cars, IoT products, cloud computing and virtualization, as well as AI. A major research focus of Tencent Keen Security Lab is automotive security, a field in which the company has partnered up with leading players. The company supports the advancement of security features of intelligent connected cars by publishing substantial research and supporting automakers in technological and technical development matters. Tencent Keen Security Lab believes its research objective and results will be beneficial to improving road safety for hundreds of millions of drivers, passengers and pedestrians in many countries.
“We want to contribute our comprehensive expertise and in-depth understanding of vehicle technologies to improving the development processes and security guidelines in the automotive industry, providing a shared benefit for OEMs and customers,” states Sen Nie, Lead Researcher of Vehicle and IoT Security Research.
In an increasingly digitalized and connected world, security is key. The merging of interfaces between different consumer devices, as well as between devices and their surroundings, generates new advantages for customers and even significant benefits for society. At the same time, however, these interfaces open up the potential of access and manipulation for illegal malicious attacks. Based on the successful cooperation, Tencent Keen Security Lab and the BMW Group are discussing options for joint in-depth research and development activities. Talks on the design of a future cooperation were held at the award ceremony. The joint research will focus on the security of Android embedded systems, and on autonomous driving security and testing. Additionally, consulting services on security in over-the-air software update mechanisms are within the scope of future collaboration.