Government-backed cyber centre coming to Olympic Park

A £13.5m cyber centre is coming to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The London Cyber Innovation Centre, opening this summer, will look to bring together industry, researchers and investors to boost the UK’s position as leader in cyber security.

According to the Government, the facility will strengthen East London’s digital cluster and help create cutting-edge technology to combat online threats.

The facility could also generate up to 2,000 jobs in cyber security – a sector forecast to be worth £69bn globally in 2018.

Its tailored programme will support at least 72 startups over three years, with participants working alongside large businesses to identify and tackle critical cyber security challenges.

The London Cyber Innovation Centre will be run by innovation hub operator Plexal and funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

The funding is part of the Government’s five-year, £1.9bn investment to keep the UK safe online.

Margot James MP, Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries, said: “London is the undisputed leader of European tech, with billions of investment flowing in every year and world-leading firms developing groundbreaking innovations.

“This new centre in the Olympic Park will build on the site’s legacy of excellence and spark a wave of creativity to develop the cyber security technology of the future and help protect the nation’s industry.”

Plexal’s founder and chief exec, Claire Cockerton, commented: “The UK has a strong heritage in tech innovation and a fertile business environment for startups to grow. But our future international standing as a world-leading digitally-enabled economy depends on a robust and forward-thinking cyber security sector.

“The centre will help this to develop by delivering bespoke business development programmes, engineering resource, professional services, access to corporate buyers and ambitious investors.”

She added: “Our mission is to bring the whole industry together to accelerate innovation, entrepreneurship and business growth for UK PLC.”

Robert Hannigan, former director at intelligence and security agency GCHQ, said: “The London Cyber Innovation Centre will be the launch pad for a whole generation of new cyber security companies, benefiting both the UK’s economy and its security.”

The London Cyber Innovation Centre will launch in June.