Minister of State Reveals UKG Investment in Northern Ireland’s Cybersecurity Sector

• Minister of State reveals an £18.9 million investment in Northern Ireland’s Cyber Security sector.
• A new Cyber-AI Hub will assist businesses and startups in discovering new prospects.
• A robust pipeline of elite cyber professionals in Northern Ireland will be fostered through training and scholarships.

The UK Government has declared an £18.9 million investment in Northern Ireland’s Cyber Security sector, which includes £11 million in Government funding via the New Deal for Northern Ireland. This initiative aims to cultivate a pipeline of cyber security experts while enabling businesses and startups to explore fresh opportunities.

The investment, announced by Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Steve Baker MP, will establish a new Cyber-AI Hub at the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) in Belfast. This hub will generate jobs and facilitate the research and development of AI-powered cyber security initiatives.

After the announcement, Minister Baker visited NVIDIA, one of the companies benefitting from the close cooperation at CSIT, to learn more about ongoing projects in their Belfast

R&D center aimed at enhancing the security and functionality of NVIDIA’s networking solutions. As a global leader in AI, the company will collaborate with the new hub on research related to AI-driven cyber threat intelligence.

This funding will help establish a pipeline of top-tier cyber professionals, creating a Doctoral training program and Masters bursaries to support the Government’s commitment to producing 5,000 cyber specialists in Northern Ireland by 2030. It also aligns with the Government’s £2.6 billion National Cyber Strategy.

An additional £3.3 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council will aid the next phase of the UK’s Innovation and Knowledge Centre at CSIT, fostering collaboration among industry, government, and academic experts to drive economic advancement.

With £4.6 million contributed by project partners, this funding builds on Northern Ireland’s strong track record of attracting investments in its Cyber Security sector, ahead of Belfast hosting the UK’s premier cyber security event, CyberUK 2023, in April.

At the event, Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker expressed:

This funding will generate employment and bolster Northern Ireland’s economy, ensuring the region remains a leader in cyber security.

We possess world-class talent and expertise in Northern Ireland, and the Government is dedicated to nurturing cyber security professionals here and across the UK.

This funding will deliver immediate benefits to Northern Ireland’s cyber sector, and with Belfast set to host the UK’s foremost cyber security conference in April, I eagerly anticipate the recognition of Northern Ireland as a global cyber security hub.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Paul Scully remarked:

Northern Ireland’s cyber security companies significantly contribute to the UK’s thriving and globally recognized tech sector.

We are committing millions so that individuals across Northern Ireland can acquire skills for rewarding careers in defending against cyber threats.

Professor Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, stated:

This investment will positively influence the cyber security industry locally, nationally, and globally.

Funding for a Doctoral Training Programme is crucial for our future. We are investing in the skills of the next generation of leaders in cyber security, thus advancing the Northern Ireland economy.

Over the last 15 years, Queen’s University has played a pivotal role in establishing Northern Ireland as a center for digital innovation. We are proud of the initiatives at the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) and keen to advance groundbreaking research through the broader Belfast Region City Deal-funded Global Innovation Institute.

Professor Dame Lynn Gladden, EPSRC Executive Chair for UK Research and Innovation, said:

For over 13 years, the Centre for Secure Information Technologies has been instrumental in the UK’s response to emerging cyber security risks. It is also central to a thriving innovation ecosystem in Northern Ireland, involving more than 100 companies and employing 2,300 individuals.

The additional funding announced today, together with the Cyber-AI hub, will build upon this success, promoting growth and supporting further cutting-edge research beneficial to all.

The Cyber-AI Hub will establish a UK Government Northern Ireland-based cyber engagement lead, collaborating with DSIT colleagues in Northern Ireland. This role, comparable to positions in other UK regions, will directly engage with the local cyber sector to support the implementation of the government’s national cyber security and leveling-up strategies while exploring opportunities for additional UK government funded innovation and skills initiatives.

The funding will also enable the continuation of the NI Cyber Security Snapshot by QUB. This initiative will regularly highlight opportunities and challenges in the Northern Ireland Cyber Security sector, further fostering sectoral growth.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

New Deal for Northern Ireland

• A comprehensive funding package aimed at enhancing Northern Ireland’s economic growth and aiding businesses. More information here.

Cyber-AI Technologies Hub

• A collective of 8 research and development intensive cyber security firms focused on AI-based security solutions.
• This consortium includes leading companies developing products for a global export market, showcasing a diverse range of services within the broader cyber security industry.
• The hub operates on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office and the Department of Culture Media and Sport, managed by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation.

CSIT Doctoral Training Programme

• The development of a cohort of 15 industry-conscious cyber security PhD graduates aimed at nurturing future leaders in the cyber domain.

Masters Bursaries

• 40 bursaries offering free access to QUB’s MSc Applied Cyber Security and MSc Data Analytics programs.

NI Cyber Security Snapshot

• The first Cyber Security Snapshot was published in May 2021, providing a comprehensive baseline, goals, and challenges for the Northern Ireland Cyber Security ecosystem. Ongoing research is necessary, which this proposal would facilitate.
• This initiative will deliver a complete list of sector companies, comprehensive data on them, economic statistics regarding Cyber Security, and an overview of the labor market, among other things.

CyberUK 2023

• The UK’s flagship cyber security event, organized by the National Cyber Security Centre, will take place in Belfast on 19/20 April, focusing on securing an open and resilient digital future. More information here.

CSIT Innovation and Knowledge Centre

• In 2008, the Institute of Electronics, Communications, and Information Technology (ECIT) was selected by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Innovate UK to host The Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT), one of only seven UK Innovation and Knowledge Centres (IKCs).

• IKCs are pivotal to the UK’s strategy for commercializing emerging technologies, establishing early-stage critical mass in disruptive technology areas. They achieve this through their high-quality research capabilities and access to complementary technologies necessary for commercializing research.