Bahrain Polytechnic has officially inaugurated the “SICO” Cybersecurity Research Lab, established with the support of SICO BSC (c), a leading regional asset manager, broker, and investment bank with direct presence in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
On this occasion, Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, CEO of Bahrain Polytechnic, emphasized the importance of this initiative in supporting national efforts to enhance the higher education ecosystem. He noted that cybersecurity is one of the promising future fields witnessing increasing demand both locally and internationally, and that the establishment of this lab will enable students to engage in advanced practical experiences and conduct high-quality research projects that contribute to the development of their technical capabilities and skills. He also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to SICO for this pioneering initiative, which reflects its commitment to supporting education and fostering partnerships with higher education institutions in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This, he added, contributes to preparing qualified national cadres capable of meeting labor market requirements and strengthening national competitiveness in this vital sector.
Najla Al Shirawi, Group CEO of SICO, commented, “We are delighted to be part of this essential initiative that contributes to equipping outstanding national talent with the tools they need to succeed in the field of cybersecurity. We firmly believe that investing in education is the key to a safer and more innovative future for the Kingdom, and this initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to empowering Bahraini youth and preparing them for the demands of the labor market.”
The new lab is a state-of-the-art research facility equipped with high-performance computing systems. It serves as a key support component for Bahrain Polytechnic’s newly launched Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity, while also providing students and academic researchers with the opportunity to conduct advanced experiments, collect data, and carry out applied research. The lab is expected to further pave the way for expanded academic and professional pathways in the field of cybersecurity, supporting Bahrain’s growing need for highly skilled specialists.
