British and Israeli academics will take part in a £1.2 million joint cyber security research project announced by the Cabinet Office.

There will be three partnerships – with two teams at Ramat Gan’s Bar Ilan University working with the University of Bristol and University College London, and a University of Kent link-up with the University of Haifa.

Speaking on Monday ahead of the announcement, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude said the collaboration was the result of both countries leading the world in technological work.

“I’m delighted to reveal the winners. Each is doing something interesting and important bringing together strands of activity and research,” he said.

“There’s already a lot of collaboration but this takes it on to the next level. It’s very much a partnership. Britain is regarded as being in the forefront on cyber security. We have very strong academic institutions working on this.”

The research work is part of an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council initiative and will focus on cryptography, data anonymity and facial recognition.

Mr Maude has visited Israel a number of times to discuss joint work. The two countries signed a deal on digital co-operation a year ago. They are among the world’s five leading digital nations alongside New Zealand, South Korea and Estonia.

The minister said he hoped the announcement would be a bulwark against boycotts.

“I’m a strong opponent of boycotts. They fly in the face of academic foundation and against our national interests as well,” Mr Maude said.

“This just illustrates that the whole boycott movement is splintered and a minority thing. Proper academics are interested in working with their counterparts.”

Mr Maude also announced a new project aimed at improving cyber security in Britain based on the Israeli Talpiot scheme.

It identifies individuals with exceptional skills and uses them in an “elite force” in government and the private sector.