‘World-leading’ cyber security centre to open in London’s Olympic Park

The London Cyber Innovation Centre will help businesses identify cyber threats and help develop start-ups to solve the issues raised.

Funding will be provided by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as part of the Government’s £1.9 billion investment in keeping the UK safe online.

The centre will also be used to help entrepreneurs secure commercial contracts and crucial investment in the cyber security industry.

Minister for digital and creative industries Margot James 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.”

The centre will host a programme of technical and engineering support, mentoring and professional business advice for at least 72 companies over the next three years, as well as make its facilities available to other start-ups not selected for the scheme.

It will be run by Plexal, the start-up development and innovation firm based at Here East in the Olympic Park.

The firm’s founder and chief executive Claire Cockerton said: “The UK has a strong heritage in tech innovation and a fertile business environment for start-ups 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. Our mission is to bring the whole industry together to accelerate innovation, entrepreneurship and business growth for UK PLC.”