Software testing is an important part of the software development process but typically is manual, expensive, and error prone. This has led to significant interest in automated test generation (and execution) algorithms, with these having the potential to lead to cheaper, higher-quality software. Despite the interest in automating parts of testing, there are still significant challenges, with auto-testing being mentioned as an EPSRC priority within Software Engineering. This project will build on initial work by the PIs that has demonstrated that an important aspect of testing can be represented in terms of Quantified Information Flow. Specifically, the PIs previously looked at Failed Error Propagation (FEP), which is sometimes called coincidental correctness. In FEP, a test execution goes through a faulty part of the software, this leads to what would be regarded as a corrupted program state (i.e. the fault has an effect) but ultimately the output is correct. Although studies have shown that FEP can significantly reduce test effectiveness, there is a lack of practical techniques that address FEP. The observation made by the PIs is that FEP corresponds to a failure for information to flow from the fault in the software to output: information is lost through different values for the program state (correct and faulty values) being mapped to the same output. The PIs have shown how FEP can be represented in terms of an information theoretic notion: Quantified Information Flow (QIF). The results of experiments were highly promising, with there being a rank correlation of over 0.95 between the frequency with which FEP was observed in software and a QIF-based metric. This remarkably strong result opens up the possibility of devising techniques that generate test cases that are less likely to suffer from FEP. In addition, we believe that it is possible to represent other important testing concepts using information theory, specifically: the 'feasibility' of a path (we do not want test automation to waste effort in trying to trigger infeasible paths), the diversity of a test suite (evidence suggests that diverse test suites are effective), and also the effectiveness of probes/oracles added to the code. This project will develop new methods, based on information theory, for reasoning about the above factors (FEP, feasibility, diversity, and oracles). In doing so it will develop information theoretic measures that can help test automation to overcome the associated issues. It will also develop methods for estimating these measures, integrate these estimates into automated test generation, and evaluate the results on open source software and software provided by our industrial partners. The outcome will be a new theory for software testing, based on information theory, and a set of techniques that use this theory to make software testing more efficient and effective.

Advanced digital systems provide many exciting opportunities for UK economic growth. Our current Platform Grant has enabled us to implement a strategy of developing novel custom computing solutions, which involve customising the latest hardware and software elements, to meet demanding requirements from many applications. These include embedded systems applications such as software-defined radio and patient monitoring, as well as high-performance computing applications such as financial modelling and medical imaging. Continued Platform Grant funding will allow us to build on our success, to support strategic development of our team, and to extend our lead in custom computing technology to cover a wide variety of advanced digital systems for healthcare, environment, and security applications.There are three new strategic directions on which we are uniquely capable of making major impacts. We plan to conduct exploratory research to identify promising projects for responsive-mode funding for the following:1. customisable heterogeneous architectures, including design space exploration of devices and systems, relevant development methods and tools, and prototyping platforms and design portability enhancement;2. self-adapting design, including architecture innovations, adaptation policies and optimisation strategies, and design and verification flow;3. security-aware systems, including architecture enhancements, compilation and test generation environments, and experimental facilities and demonstration flow.The added value aspects for this Platform Grant proposal include: (a) providing continuity of support, (b) exploring significant strategic directions, (c) contributing to research infra-structure, (d) attracting fresh talents, (e) pioneering and strengthening international collaborations, and (f) accelerating technology transfer.

Probabilistic modelling permeates all branches of engineering and science, either in a fundamental way, addressing randomness and uncertainty in physical and economic phenomena, or as a device for the design of stochastic algorithms for data analysis, systems design and optimisation. Probability also provides the theoretical framework which underpins the analysis and design of algorithms in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. The "CDT in Mathematics of Random Systems" is a new partnership in excellence between the Oxford Mathematical Institute, the Oxford Dept of Statistics, the Dept of Mathematics at Imperial College and multiple industry partners from the healthcare, technology and financial services sectors, whose goal is to establish an internationally leading PhD training centre for probability and its applications in physics, finance, biology and Data Science, providing a national beacon for research and training in stochastic modelling and its applications, reinforcing the UK's position as an international leader in this area and meeting the needs of industry for experts with strong analytical, computing and modelling skills. We bring together two of the worlds' best and foremost research groups in the area of probabilistic modelling, stochastic analysis and their applications -Imperial College and Oxford- to deliver a consolidated training programme in probability, stochastic analysis, stochastic simulation and computational methods and their applications in physics, biology, finance, healthcare and Data Science. Doctoral research of students will focus on the mathematical modelling of complex physical, economic and biological systems where randomness plays a key role, covering mathematical foundations as well as specific applications in collaboration with industry partners. Joint projects with industrial partners across several sectors -technology, finance, healthcare- will be used to sharpen research questions, leverage EPSRC funding and transfer research results to industry. Our vision is to educate the next generation of PhDs with unparalleled, cross-disciplinary expertise, strong analytical and computing skills as well as in-depth understanding of applications, to meet the increasing demand for such experts within the Technology sector, the Financial Service sector, the Healthcare sector, Government and other Service sectors, in partnership with industry partners from these sectors who have committed to co-funding this initiative. ALIGNMENT with EPSRC PRIORITIES This proposal reaches across various areas of pure and applied mathematics and Data Science and addresses the EPSRC Priority areas of (15. Mathematical and Computational Modelling), (22. Pure Mathematics and its Interfaces) ; however, the domain it covers is cross-disciplinary and broader than any of these priority areas taken in isolation. Probabilistic methods and algorithms form the theoretical foundation for the burgeoning area of Data Science and AI, another EPSRC Priority area which we plan to address, in particular through industry partnerships with AI/technology/data science firms. IMPACT By training highly skilled experts equipped to build, analyse and deploy probabilistic models, the CDT in Mathematics of Random Systems will contribute to - sharpening the UK's research lead in this area and training a new generation of mathematical scientists who can tackle scientific challenges in the modelling of complex, simulation and control of complex random systems in science and industry, and explore the exciting new avenues in mathematical research many of which have been pioneered by researchers in our two partner institutions; - train the next generation of experts able to deploy sophisticated data driven models and algorithms in the technology, finance and healthcare sectors

The ACORN network's mission is to bridge the gap that currently exists between the research in universities and the need of the financial services industry, its consumers and the regulator. ACORN wants to grow to well over 100 primary partners and 1000 associated partners, offering an inclusive, diverse and responsible research culture. Based on regional presence in Wales, Scotland, North-East England and London, it will harmonize technological know-how across regions and connect regional partners to nation-wide efforts. Real-life challenges in financial services are complex, combining responding to technology innovation with business ethics, green/environmental considerations and scarcity in the talent pipeline. This presents FS with wicked problems, which the industry cannot ignore, and which require people and researchers from across disciplines to come together. ACORN aims to address wicked problems in FS that are associated with innovation in technology, mathematics and sciences. ACORN provides a number of mechanisms to succeed in this mission. Central to ACORN's working is its 'commissioning framework', which provides the funding mechanisms for five types of collaborative projects between academia and partners. ACORN offers seed project funding, which aims to explore technological, mathematical and scientific solutions for real-life challenges in FS, prioritised through co-design sandpits. It then offers funding for larger multi-disciplinary feasibility projects, which may build on the seed projects, and expand to consider 'wicked' multi-disciplinary research problems. In parallel, ACORN offers funding for agile projects, which can be of any type, e.g., horizon scanning, population survey, a software prototype or a machine learning application. These have predetermined IP arrangements, so that they can be organised in agile manner and can start at any time for the duration of ACORN. Additionally, impact projects are offered to take any of the research projects further (e.g., to influence policy makers, or initiate commercialisation), and education/engagement projects allow to grow the FS talent pool and address the talent pipeline. To support researchers and partners in these project, ACORN establishes a number of services the community can use. The co-design service and the corporate digital responsibility service help researchers to consider these aspects in their proposals. The secure data vault, the shared code base, the experimentation sandbox and template IP arrangements are available to improve research, its impact and to lower collaboration barriers. We name the network ACORN, to signify that collaborations as majestic as an oak tree can grow from humble beginnings.

CENTRE VISION Our vision for the new CDT in Financial Computing and Analytics is to as a national 'beacon' linking PhD & Masters' students, industry and academia in financial computing and analytics. We and our Industry partners are also central to the forthcoming investments in Big Data from EPSRC and ESRC (e.g. Business Datasafe). Its principal objective is to educate the next generation of elite PhDs with unparalleled, cross-disciplinary expertise in applied computing, analytics and financial mathematics, as well as in-depth sector understanding, to meet an increasing demand for their skills within the Financial Service Industry, Government, Retail and other Service sectors. Our existing DTC in Financial Computing is unique (there is no other research & training activity like it in the world) and by placing our PhD students in financial institutions and regulators it has had a major impact on the UK financial sector, as indicated by the Financial Times article (School for QUANTS) and our Letters of Support. The CDT is a new partnership between UCL, LSE and ICL, all providing MRes courses and PhD supervision. NATIONAL IMPORTANCE & GROWING NEED FOR CROSS-DISCIPLINARY SKILLS London is the world's leading international financial centre and the UK financial services industry is the key sector for the UK economy, contributed £124bn to the UK economy, generating a trade surplus of £36bn in 2010 and employing 1 million people. London is also the location for our financial regulators and world-class Retailers. Our Financial and other Service industries are therefore crucial to the UK's, and especially London's, continuing social and economic prosperity. Although we receive over 600 enquiries/applications per annum, and growing, recent reports by McKinsey and Accenture highlight the major and growing skills shortage of (postgrad) IT/data scientists in the USA 22,000 and the UK 4,000. EPSRC PRIORITIES AND RESEARCH The proposed CDT is aligned to EPSRC priorities across a number of Themes, in particular: Data to Knowledge (an ICT Theme priority), Industrially Focussed Mathematical Modelling (Mathematical Sciences) and New Digital Ventures (Digital Economy). The crucially important IT research challenges in just one area, namely the application of software engineering, AI and verification/correctness to algorithms for automated trading, illustrates the enormous research opportunities. IMPACT The current DTC in Financial Computing is acknowledged by the Department of Business Innovation & Skills as having had a major impact on our financial industry partners and on our academic partners. This will continue with the new CDT, impacting Regulators, government, Retailers and analytics companies. * STUDENTS - In 2011 the Centre funded more female PhD students than males, and in 2012 the Centre started 40 new PhD students if we count DTC funded students, students funded by other sources, such as retail and analytics companies, and industry-based part-time students. * ACADEMIA - UCL, LSE and Imperial College have all appointed new faculty in applied financial computing and business analytics; and UCL and ICL have started new Masters programmes. * INDUSTRY - many of the Banks now have established formal PhD programmes, in part due to the current DTC, and proved lecturers to the partners for industry-oriented programmes. * REGULATORS AND GOVERNMENT- we have placed PhD students in the BoE/FSA/PRA/FCA and the Cabinet Office, and as discussed in the Case for Support, we have held individual meetings and workshops with the Regulators (BoE, PRA, FCA) and with new (Retailer) partners (Tesco, BUPA, Unilever) to discuss how we can support them. * SOCIETAL - we encourage and support our PhD students in launching their own start-up, and we provide Masters and Undergraduate students to London-based start-ups, especially in the area called New Finance (e.g. P2P lending, crowdfunding).