‘Landmark moment’ for Newcastle and Durham as two pilot Innovation Centres announced

CyberNorth has today announced a “landmark moment” which will see the roll out of two pilot Innovation Centres in Newcastle and Durham as a result of funding secured from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

The funding will enable CyberNorth and key partners to pilot the initiative and provide proof of concept for further roll-out across the region. The Innovation Centres will provide a ‘vital’ platform to early-stage businesses allowing them to pursue and accelerate their growth trajectory in the cyber security field. 

The venture will see CyberNorth collaborate with Atom Bank and co-working space provider floe to house businesses as part of a six-month package of support to help foster innovation and growth. The funding swiftly follows the highly successful Aspire CyberFest 2023 event, which brought together over 350 business leaders and tech experts from the region. 

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for AI and Intellectual Property) Viscount Camrose addressed the conference and highlighted the vital role played by the North East’s cyber security cluster, CyberNorth, and local tech companies in fuelling the growth of the region’s cyber security sector.

Phil Jackman, Director CyberNorth, commented: “We are delighted to have secured funding from the DSIT, this is a ground-breaking moment for cyber security in the region. As a catalyst of support in the North East, the aim of CyberNorth is to bring the cyber sector together, whilst championing the region nationally. 

“The roll-out of the ‘physical’ Innovation Centres is a big step and see our plans and collaborations with partners across the North East build further momentum. 

“The ministerial visit to the region last year was key and enabled the minister to see first-hand the challenges being faced, and the potential to grow the cyber security and digital sector to unlock new jobs and investment across the region. We are very excited to put the wheels in motion for this new venture with our partners Atom Bank and floe.”

With the region now recognised as a key player in the UK cyber security landscape, the Innovation Centres will further unleash the potential in the North East, supporting the businesses under the programme with a blend of business incubation, free (or subsidised accommodation) and hands on skills development and support. 

The CyberNorth Membership community is made up of around 900 members from the cyber security landscape. CyberNorth works closely with other sector clusters across the region including FinTech, Space, HealthTech, Advanced Manufacturing and Renewables.

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