"The Silicone Valley of the Glen": Work begins on Abertay's cybersecurity hub
30 highly skilled jobs will be created thanks to the partnership
Last updated 16th Sep 2021
Dundee's Abertay University have confirmed that NHS Scotland's cybersecurity agency is the first tenant to be secured for the new cyberQuarter research and development hub at the university.
The partnership will see 30 highly skilled cybersecurity jobs brought to Dundee to provide cybersecurity operations which will cover all of Scotland's health services.
The cyberQuarter is funded through the Tay Cities Deal and the new jobs are the first positions to be announced since the Deal was signed.
NHS NSS (National Services Scotland) will move into their office in the cyberQuarter when the building on Abertay University's Bell Street campus opens early next year.
Designed to attract new and existing cybersecurity firms to the region, the cyberQuarter will also support the creation of new companies, boost the security and resilience of the Scottish business community and facilitate the creation of new products and services through innovation-led research.
The Scottish Government has committed up to £6 million and the UK Government up to £5.7 million to the project, with Abertay University the other main funder.
As part of NHS NSS agreement with Abertay cybersecurity students will be invited to gain work experience alongside their staff. This will provide hands-on industry experience for students alongside access to the very best graduate talent for the organisation.
Negotiations are underway with other cybersecurity firms who are expected to either locate in the cyberQuarter or take up flexible working spaces in the building as the project begins to roll out.
The cyberQuarter is being created by fully renovating the unused upper three floors of Abertay Student Centre, providing office, events and collaboration/experimentation space, alongside secure cloud-computing infrastructure to enable online teaching, R&D and knowledge-exchange activities.
Renovation work begins this month and, once complete, the building will be renamed The Lamont Building in honour of Annie Keir Lamont, an influential Dundee activist and graduate of Abertay’s predecessor institution, Dundee Technical Institute, who studied magnetism and electricity, and telegraphy and telephony in 1903/04.
With sustainable development part of the planning process, elements of the existing building will be reused where possible, with bar fittings to be modified and repurposed and kitchen equipment to be moved to the main University building for use on Abertay’s food science courses.
Interior concept designs for the new layout have been designed by Wellwood Leslie Architects.
Dr Natalie Coull the head of the cybersecurity division at Abertay University said: "It's a fantastic opportunity for students in particular. They'll be able to work on real industry problems that are relevant for organisations today.
"They'll be working at the forefront of cybersecurity through some of their project briefs, so it will really give students exposure to those challenges in the industry and be able to develop their professional skills and their hands on real world cybersecurity skills as well."
She went on to add: "I think it's really great for Tayside. You know people are saying that Dundee is the new silicon valley of the Glenn, so I think it's great for us to be able to attract this level of jobs to Dundee and provide real opportunities for people across Tayside."
Steven Flockhart, director of cloud engineering and operations for NHS National services Scotland, said: "I think it's fantastic. It's a great partnership between ourselves and Abertay University. It creates a real opportunity for us to explore avenues around cybersecurity that we don't today.
"We're really hoping this will be a catalyst for not just academics and students to get involved in these but also local businesses and businesses nationally as well starting to become involved in the discussion around cybersecurity. "
Scottish Government Economy Secretary Kate Forbes said: “I’m pleased to see such a positive example of the impact our investment in the Tay Cities Region Deal is having.
"It’s great news for the region to secure 30 highly skilled jobs in this vital sector, and to see that NHS NSS will also be working with Abertay University to create new opportunities for their students. With the University’s commitment to inclusive growth and the local student base, I hope this will help ensure that local people have the chance to benefit from these developments.”
Chair of the Tay Cities Joint Committee, Councillor John Alexander told us: “It’s fantastic to see the work that has gone into the Tay Cities Deal translating into new jobs and investment in the region.
"The cyberQuarter project is a natural fit for the area as our tech sector continues to go from strength to strength, and I’m very pleased to see the NHS NSS cybersecurity team basing their national operations in Dundee.”