Project Initiation
Finding the right partners, getting the ecosystem together, and defining the roadmap for the remainder of the project.
What this phase is about
Project Lacewing does not begin with scanning — it begins with building the foundation that makes responsible, independent, AI-driven security research possible at scale. Before we deploy a single model, we need the right people, the right partners, and the right plan.
Project Initiation is the phase in which we establish all of that.
What we are doing
Building the partner ecosystem
Project Lacewing depends on a diverse coalition: organisations that contribute funding, hardware, volunteer expertise, or access to their own codebases for research. During this phase we are actively identifying, approaching, and onboarding founding partners — and defining what a sustainable, long-term partnership model looks like.
Defining the research roadmap
The subsequent sub-projects — Open Source Models, Closed Source Models, Investigation of Software, Data Leak Discovery, and Vulnerable Configuration Research — each need a clear scope, timeline, and success criteria. This phase produces that roadmap, informed by input from the security community, our partners, and DIVD’s own research experience.
Setting up the infrastructure
Running AI-assisted vulnerability research requires infrastructure: compute, tooling, secure data handling, and integration with DIVD’s existing case management and responsible disclosure workflows. During initiation we design and begin building that foundation.
Establishing governance
Independence is only meaningful if it is structurally protected. This phase establishes the governance model that ensures Project Lacewing remains non-commercial, transparent, and aligned with DIVD’s code of conduct — regardless of which partners join or how the project grows.
How you can help right now
Project Initiation is where the project is most open to input and involvement. If you have expertise in AI security research, fundraising, or project governance — or if your organisation is considering becoming a partner — now is the time to get in touch.