Cyber-crime research centre to leave Ireland

A world-leading research centre into cyber-crime is being relocated out of Ireland after funding was pulled by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).

Professor Mary Aiken, who runs the CyberPsychology Research Centre, told delegates at the annual Web Summit technology conference that it would find a new home outside of Ireland with some assistance from the RCSI.

She drew a comparison with the decision of Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave to move the 30,000-delegate conference to Lisbon from 2016.

Professor Aiken told delegates: “Unfortunately, in the spirit of Paddy Cosgrave, our research centre will now be going overseas in the new year. The Irish institutional mindset leaves a sad propensity to strangle our own success stories at birth.

“It was not my decision that the centre is leaving. The RCSI’s wording was that the Centre did not fit with its research vision going forward.”

However, she said the centre would continue to focus on “cutting-edge research” and an announcement will be made in the coming weeks.

The centre is widely seen as being at the forefront of research into the motivation behind cyber-crime.

Professor Cathal Kelly, chief executive of the RSCI, said: “Mary Aiken has passionately led this new emerging field and we wish her continued success in her important work for the future.”