A new ‘cyberQuarter’ is to be created at Abertay University as part of a new £11.7m project to create a cybersecurity research and development centre.
Based on the Abertay campus in Dundee and run with core partners the Scottish Business Resilience Centre, the city’s new ‘cyberQuarter’ will be a cluster of academic and industry activity, offering expertise in applied research and access to a range of public-sector support for local businesses and public bodies.
Abertay prides itself on being the first university in the world to offer degrees in ethical hacking, where students are trained in offensive cybersecurity and taught to think like hackers.
The project will tap into this expertise while linking up with the digital industries ecosystem of Dundee and offering wider business-focused engagement through key partners.
The signing of the Tay Cities Deal this week saw the Scottish Government commit £6m to the cyberQuarter project, with the UK Government investing £5.7m.
Businesses in the new centre will be able to benefit from bespoke support and advice from Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise.
Abertay University principal, Professor Nigel Seaton, said the Tay Cities Deal investment has the potential to ignite a major new industry for the area, following the hugely successful growth of the video games cluster.
Mandy Haeburn-Little, chief executive officer of the Scottish Business Resilience Centre, said: “Today is a milestone day for Scotland.
“I am delighted that our partnership vision with Abertay University has been recognised through this very significant investment which will be of benefit to every citizen in Scotland and of course to a much wider international audience also.”
Head of the division of cybersecurity at Abertay, Dr Natalie Coull said: “The cyberQuarter will help position Dundee as a key player in the UK cybersecurity industry and will play a crucial part in retaining the skills talent that we produce here.
“We are delighted to be leading on this fantastic opportunity for the area.”
