A Belfast-based cyber security firm is investing almost £2m in software to help prevent the advanced manufacturing sector from cyber attacks.

ANGOKA, which was set up in 2019 has developed the technology which could be used on the likes of drones, trucks and automated buses as well as manufacturing equipment.

It is being developed in partnership with the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), one of the Belfast City Deal projects, with financial support from Invest NI.

Fifteen jobs will be created in the next 18 months, but chairman Steve Berry said it could create hundreds of jobs in the years to come.

“This is a world leading project and the biggest in the UK in advanced manufacturing and as a result we have organisations like Thales, Rolls Royce, Airbus that are also advising us,” he said.

Mr Berry said that the manufacturing sector in the UK alone totals tens of billions of pounds.

“If we could become an important contributor to make those systems safer, there’s going to be a lot of export opportunities, who knows where this could go?” he added.

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said this announcement will boost productivity.

She said: “We have a persistent challenge in terms of productivity levels compared to both the south of Ireland and Britain.

“The reason that is important is productivity is linked to prosperity and people’s incomes and the greater productivity we can drive in our economy, the better that is for ordinary people and that’s why investments like this are really important.”

Archibald said Northern Ireland is known for its cyber security expertise around the world.

“We are a global leader and this announcement shines a spotlight on that and further enhances the offering that we do have here,” she added.