New plan launched to strengthen Northern Ireland innovation economy

Pictured (L-R) are Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair, Innovate UK; Ian Snowden, Permanent Secretary of the Department for the Economy; Kieran Donoghue, CEO, Invest NI; Dean Cook, Director - Place and Global, Innovate UK

A new plan to strengthen business innovation in Northern Ireland has been unveiled. The Collaborative Innovation Plan, has been co-created by Innovate UK - the UK’s innovation agency, the Department for the Economy (DfE) and Invest Northern Ireland.

The plan outlines shared ambitions including a focus on growing productivity, raising levels of research and development (R&D), to deliver greater economic impact, decarbonising industry and making the most of Northern Ireland’s unique geopolitical location.

The seven strategically important priority sectors for the Northern Ireland economy, identified by DfE, remain a core element. These are the sectors in which Northern Ireland already has significant strengths, resources or infrastructure, and will be a target for further investment and jobs. This focus will release the potential of Northern Ireland’s clusters of highest potential, that include precision medicine through to advanced manufacturing through to cyber security. 

Innovate UK, DfE and Invest NI in collaboration with other local partners, will deliver a range of actions to raise innovation performance and three shared objectives have been agreed:

1. To enhance collaboration between partners to ensure innovation stakeholders have a clear, timely and inclusive route to access support.
2. To strengthen connectivity between partners on a local, UK, and international basis to help increase the breadth and level of funding and investment coming into the region.
3. To collectively support strategic priorities to deliver more good jobs, raise productivity, promote regional balance and reduce carbon emissions.

Innovate UK already works very closely with businesses and local leaders in Northern Ireland and over the past six years has invested £164 million in innovation projects across the north. Working in partnership and aligning with DfE’s sector priorities, DfE has supported an additional 109 projects in the portfolio, worth £6.5m in local funding. 

Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair at Innovate UK said: "Northern Ireland has abundant ideas. Working with the Department for the Economy and Invest NI, the Collaborative Innovation Plan is about streamlining and accelerating the path from lab to market - helping breakthrough innovations scale to commercial success.

“Together, we're delivering on our UK-wide commitment to back innovations that shape markets, create high-value jobs, and drive productivity."

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “The north is well placed to seize the opportunities that innovation presents - home to world-class universities, thriving innovation centres, and dual-market access to both Britain and the EU. 

“This plan should help us to secure a fair share of Innovate UK funding for local businesses, especially the small and medium-sized enterprises that are the backbone of our economy. Through this plan, we will help them grow, build on existing strengths, and ensure support is accessible, inclusive, and fit for purpose.”

Kieran Donoghue, Chief Executive of Invest NI said: “This plan represents a shared commitment to build on our strengths, address our challenges and create the conditions for innovation to thrive across Northern Ireland. It aligns closely with Invest NI’s three-year Business Strategy which emphasises innovation, productivity, and partnerships with client companies and other key stakeholders.

“Innovation is a key part of how we respond to global challenges, drive productivity, create good jobs, build a sustainable future and ensure Northern Ireland remains competitive on the global stage.”

You can download the Collaborative Innovation plan here.