Manufacturing & Supply Chain

To combat the current shortage of skilled cyber security personnel and the need to develop a strong and coordinated national ‘ecosystem’ against the backdrop of rising cyber threats, the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE), established by the Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) has just launched a substantially funded national cyber security training programme to support industry 4.0.

The AMTCE’s ‘Cyber for Advanced Manufacturing Ireland’ suite of programmes were officially launched at the LMETB/ AMTCE event ‘Strategic Initiatives for Advanced Manufacturing in our National Cyber Security Ecosystem’  at Buswells Hotel in Dublin, by Ossian Smyth, Minister of State for Public Expenditure and at the Department of the Environment with Martin O’Brien, chief executive of LMETB and founder of AMTCE and independent Senator Gerard Craughwell.

The objectives are to increase cyber security skills, public awareness, support job creation and the indigenous cyber security industry by creating an interconnected ecosystem. It is central to an overall vision for Ireland to become a global cyber security leader and ties into the proposed establishment of a European Cyber Shield to protect, detect, defend, and deter, as outlined the recent EU International Cyber security Forum in April 2023.

Cyber Ireland’s  recent report estimates that Ireland’s cyber security cluster could support up to €2.5bn in annual GVA (Gross Value Added) and the employment of over 17,000 cyber security professionals in the sector by 2030, if the right environment and supports are in place.

The AMTCE programmes will adopt a multi-facetted approach, generating an Irish talent pipeline to meet the workforce gap of more than 3.4 million* cyber security positions globally. The AMTCE, which is supported by SOLAS and Enterprise Ireland will also be delivering a cyber skills model that may be utilised by other Education and Training Boards.

Speaking at the launch, Martin O’Brien, chief executive of LMETB and the founder of the AMTCE, said: “Ever increasing levels of connectivity are now exposing factory systems to cyber security risks and manufacturing now accounts for almost 25% of all cyber-attacks.  A recent report by KMPG highlighted the fact that nearly 1 in 5 organisations have no factory IT cyber security awareness training to improve the security culture across organisations.

“This is a clear deficit that needs to be addressed urgently. I’m delighted to announce today that LMETB and the AMTCE are moving to address the very real needs of industry in this area.” 

“Training has a key role to play in helping the advanced manufacturing sector gain the benefits of Industry 4.0 while mitigating the risks. LMETB and AMTCE provide access and delivery of cyber security related training programmes to provide the necessary skills and knowledge to improve and develop the cyber security ‘IQ’ of Ireland’s advanced manufacturing workforce,” Martin O’Brien continued.

The substantially funded courses available under the AMTCE’s cyber security programme are open to individuals as well as employees of organisations. They will benefit business owners and leaders who carry the burden of protecting their customers, protecting their employees and the local communities which depend on companies to survive. Highly practical in nature, the AMTCE cyber security programme will focus strongly on supporting industry in all sectors to identify cyber risk and their potential impacts on the physical assets, software, and data of an organisation.

The AMTCE utilises outside industry experts for its courses, to ensure that the quality and focus of its training is always cutting edge.

AMTCE will also create multiple entry points for people interested in starting a career in cyber security, people looking to upskill or change career. One such example is the AMTCE’s Cyber security Apprenticeship launched in 2022 in association with Fastrack into Information Technology (FIT). These apprentices are all employed by industry and are part of the Earn and Learn Generation Apprenticeship initiative.

To encourage an interest in cyber security as a career in primary and post-primary students, AMTCE will create various entry points and pathways.

AMTCE (Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre of Excellence) in Dundalk was established in 2021 by the LMETB to deliver hands on skills-oriented training needed to underpin the transition of Irish enterprise to industry 4.0 based operations, with a focus on the multi-billion manufacturing, pharma, food and drink, construction, and engineering sectors.

The AMTCE’s ‘Cyber for Advanced Manufacturing Ireland’  programmes begin in September 2023, for more details, visit www.amtce.ie

CAPTION:

Pictured (L-R): Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell; Aoife McDaid, training manager, AMTCE; and Martin O’Brien, chief executive of LMETB and founder of AMTCE, at the announcement of a national cyber security training programme by the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE), established by the Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB).