Minister for Northern Ireland, Sarah Owen MP, today (Thursday 29 October) welcomed £7.5m in UK Government investment during a visit to Queen's Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) Cyber-AI Hub, strengthening Northern Ireland’s position as a global leader in cyber security and artificial intelligence.
The funding, delivered by the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Cutlure, Media and Sport, will support cutting-edge research and development, accelerate innovation in AI-enabled cyber security technologies, and strengthen collaboration between industry, academia and government. The investment is expected to further enhance Northern Ireland’s internationally recognised cyber ecosystem, which currently employs more than 2,700 people across 140 companies.
CSIT is internationally recognised for its work with industry and public-sector partners to develop cyber security technologies that protect businesses and critical infrastructure. The new Cyber-AI Hub will build on this success by driving the next generation of cyber resilience technologies and supporting economic growth across Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Office Minister Sarah Owen said:
“I’m delighted to visit the state-of-the-art CSIT facility to hear first hand how this £7.5 million UK Government funding will strengthen Northern Ireland’s thriving cyber security and AI sector.
“The UK Government is committed to supporting Northern Ireland’s economic growth, and this funding will boost jobs and skills in a growth industry of the future.”
Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, said:
"This significant investment from the UK Government is a strong endorsement of the world-class expertise that exists at Queen’s and within Northern Ireland’s cyber security sector.
"CSIT has developed a global reputation for excellence in cyber research, innovation and skills development, working with industry partners to translate pioneering research into commercial and societal impact.
"This funding will strengthen our leading position in the UK in cybersecurity and AI."
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Professor Máire O'Neill, Director of CSIT, added:
"The funding from the UK Government will support the next stage of the Cyber-AI hub, including collaborative industry and academic projects, both PhD and Masters students and the wider sector.
The Cyber-AI Hub will help us accelerate innovation at the intersection of cyber security and artificial intelligence, strengthening our research capabilities while delivering economic and societal benefits by developing new skills in the critical area of AI Security. We look forward to continuing to work closely with government and industry partners to realise the opportunities presented by these transformative technologies."
The funding will support the development of new technologies, create opportunities for collaboration with businesses of all sizes, and help develop the highly skilled talent pipeline needed to meet growing demand across the cybersecurity and AI sectors.
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