Cyber Ecosystem
CSIT has been a critical resource in establishing and promoting Northern Ireland as a leading UK cyber security innovation ecosystem through skills development, spin-out commercialisation of research, the scale-up of local and regional businesses and attracting foreign direct investment. CSIT’s regional impact has ensured Northern Ireland continues to be the number one international investment location for US cyber security development projects (Source: fDi Markets FT, 2024).
This burgeoning cyber security innovation ecosystem has grown significantly and now numbers 120+ companies employing approximately 2,750 cyber security professionals generating over £237m direct GVA to the economy (Source: NI Cyber Security Snapshot, 2024), with an ambition to reach 5,000 by 2030.
The Royal Society recognised CSIT’s cyber security innovation ecosystem in its 2020 ‘Research and innovation clusters’ report, while the UK Research and Development Roadmap, published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in 2020 highlights CSIT as a case study on how investment in research, development and innovation can deliver economic impact to the surrounding area and beyond.
CSIT leveraged its unique position as a leading academic research centre in cyber security to bring industry leaders together to establish NI Cyber, the region’s cyber security cluster.
Learn more about NI Cyber