Data61 drops world-class seL4 security team
The world-leading Australian research team that developed the extremely hard to hack seL4 microkernel has been disbanded by the CSIRO, with staff to be moved to AI projects or sacked in a restructure of Data61.
Work will continue on the project through an independent seL4 Foundation established last year but those involved say it will be much harder to attract funding and world-leading talent will be lost.
The changes are part of a restructure of CSIRO’s digital arm Data61, that will see 70 positions lost. The agency said different positions are being created in line with CSIRO’s new strategy built around AI, but it will take two years for headcount to return to current levels.
InnovationAus understands CSIRO staff were told by management at a meeting on Wednesday that the seL4 group known as Trustworthy Systems no longer fits the agency’s strategy and would be dissolved.
The decision to axe seL4, which has seen its team reduced over the last year, was revealed on Twitter on Friday by UNSW Scientia Professor Dr Gernot Heiser.
