Ireland and Northern Ireland’s cybersecurity sectors are set to deepen collaboration and unlock new opportunities as Cyber Ireland and NI Cyber today announced a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at their event “All Island Cybersecurity Sector Opportunity” in the City North Hotel, County Meath. The MoU outlines key shared goals to align with both clusters’ strategic priorities, including enhancing cross-border connections, supporting industry-academic R&D collaboration, and raising the international profile of the all-island sector.
The announcement coincides with the launch of a comprehensive report commissioned by Cyber Ireland and NI Cyber, with support from InterTradeIreland’s Synergy Programme. Produced by Perspective Economics, the report provides the first in-depth mapping of the all-island cybersecurity ecosystem.
Key findings from the report reveal that the all-island cybersecurity sector is among the largest in Western Europe, comprising 632 firms and employing 10,600 professionals, with the sector generating an estimated €3.2 (£2.9 bn) billion and contributing €1.5 (£1.3 bn) billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) in the most recent financial year. Irish firms alone have seen revenue growth of 13.4% annually over the past two years, signifying steady growth for the cybersecurity sector.
The study also highlights that the all-island cybersecurity sector benefits greatly from the presence of multinational companies, as well as indigenous enterprises, with 41% of firms headquartered in Ireland and 7% in Northern Ireland. However, barriers remain for the industry with policy gaps, procurement challenges and security clearance issues hindering cross-border collaboration.
Speaking at the event, Eoin Byrne, Cluster Manager at Cyber Ireland, stated:
“Cybersecurity is not just a technological issue, it’s a strategic economic opportunity. This report demonstrates the strength of the all-island cybersecurity sector and the huge potential to improve our cyber resilience and drive economic growth by working together. The signing of the MoU between Cyber Ireland and NI Cyber is a major step forward in that journey.”
Joanne English, Cluster Manager at NI Cyber, added:
“The cybersecurity threats we face don’t stop at borders. Through enhanced collaboration, we can boost innovation and better support our companies and communities. This report and its findings highlight the opportunity for our respective clusters. The MoU paves the way for joint action and shared success. 42 cybersecurity companies already have active offices in both NI and Ireland, which shows a clear appetite for cross-border collaboration, and we must now work to realise the opportunities of a more integrated all-island cybersecurity market.”
Alison Currie, Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at InterTradeIreland, commented:
“Cybersecurity is now a critical and vital consideration for all businesses. This report, funded by our Synergy programme, will benefit all businesses across the island of Ireland as they strive to collectively improve their cybersecurity preparedness, support their digitalisation processes and reduce their risk of cyber-attacks. InterTradeIreland is committed to supporting the cybersecurity sector as it continues to collaborate, innovate and overcome obstacles to further accelerate growth potential.”
To learn more about the partnership and the all-island cybersecurity sector, visit cyberireland.ie or nicyber.tech.
