Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Steve Baker, has announced that the UK Government will invest £18.8 million in Northern Ireland’s security industry to cultivate a pipeline of cyber security talent and support startups in the region.
The funding will also facilitate the establishment of a ‘Cyber-AI Hub’ at the Centre for Secure Information Technologies in Belfast. Eight organizations, including Nvidia, will operate from the Hub, concentrating on research related to AI-driven security and technologies.
Baker remarked, “This funding will help create jobs and bolster Northern Ireland’s economy, ensuring that the region continues to excel in cyber security. We have world-class talent and expertise in Northern Ireland, and the Government is dedicated to developing cyber security professionals both here and across the UK.”
He added, “The funding will have an immediate positive impact on Northern Ireland’s cyber sector, and with Belfast hosting the UK’s leading cyber security conference in April, I’m eager to see Northern Ireland gain the recognition it deserves as a global cyber security hub.”
Professor Ian Greer, president and vice-chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, noted, “Over the last 15 years, Queen’s University has significantly contributed to placing Northern Ireland on the map for digital innovation. We take pride in the initiatives at the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) and look forward to advancing cutting-edge research through the broader Belfast Region City Deal-funded Global Innovation Institute.”