The Manitoba government is investing $550,000 between December 2019 and March 2023 to support the creation of a Cyber Security Technical Centre of Excellence.
“Cyber attacks are on the rise, and experts predict that cybercrime damages will cost the world more than $6 trillion annually by 2021,” said Economic Development and Training Minister Ralph Eichler. “Cyber security will continue to be a high-demand sector, with studies projecting 8,000 new jobs across Canada in the next two years alone.”
The project will be cost-shared by the Manitoba government, the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT), industry and other potential sources. Manitoba’s funding in the project will leverage significant investment from private industry to support this timely training program.
MITT will provide a data centre for its students, instructors and industry trainers to allow for testing, simulating and applying solutions to real-life, cyber security challenges. The centre will allow industry to learn, train, develop and grow through full-time and short-term training programs, collaborations and applied research, on and off campus.
“This project exemplifies what MITT strives to do every day in collaboration with industry, government and allied stakeholders,” said MITT president and CEO Ray Karasevich. “We are looking at needs, looking at opportunities and finding rapid solutions to the challenges facing our economy. We are grateful to have the province’s support as we work to stimulate job creation and innovation in the dynamic and growing field of cyber security.”
Eichler noted the centre of excellence aligns with Manitoba’s Economic Growth Action Plan by developing a culture of innovation and collaboration between the post-secondary system and industry. It’s also in step with the provincial government’s mandate to align training and skills development with the evolving needs in Manitoba’s labour market.
