Northern Ireland sees big rise in science and innovation funding
A report on funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), shows that Northern Ireland has seen a bigger percentage increase (43%) than elsewhere in the UK. Half of UKRI’s investment in research projects last year was made to organisations outside London and the South East, the highest proportion ever. This represents a cumulative additional £1.4 billion invested outside the Greater South East since 2021 to 2022.
All regions and nations received an increase in UKRI investment between 2021 and 2022 and 2023 and 2024. However, the largest absolute increases were in the Midlands and the North West and the largest percentage increase in Northern Ireland.
Science and research investment is a powerful engine for job creation, prosperity and better lives for our citizens. Our investments contributing towards job creation, business growth and better lives for people in Northern Ireland include the following projects.
Centre for Secure Information Technologies
The Centre for Secure Information Technologies at Queen’s University Belfast was first established in 2009 as one of seven innovation and knowledge centres. It now comprises more than 125 companies employing approximately 2,750 cybersecurity professionals in the Belfast area, supporting over £237 million gross value added to the Northern Ireland economy.
EPIC Futures
EPIC Futures is working towards a prosperous and sustainable future for Northern Ireland. The partnership brings together business, academia, policymakers community and voluntary sector to tackle local challenges.
Smart Nano
Smart Nano creates advanced prototyping and smart manufacturing methods, leading to new technology. It has already attracted more than £20 million in private investment and early successes include a less invasive way to test for breast cancer.
Decarbonisation of Marine Transport
Decarbonisation of Marine Transport is building on Belfast’s maritime heritage to develop zero emissions hydrofoil ferries, helping to make Belfast Harbour one of the world’s most environmentally friendly regional ports. The project is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs in the region over 10 years and boost the local economy by £129 million.
Capitalise on Northern Ireland’s expertise
Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said: “To sustain the economic growth we need to improve lives across the UK we must take full advantage of the research talent and facilities that exist across our country. From Smart Nano’s advanced prototyping attracting millions of pounds of further investment to work decarbonising marine transport in Belfast – one of the UK’s great maritime cities – these investments will help to capitalise on Northern Ireland’s expertise while growing the local economy.”
The detail is set out in the Geographical distribution of UKRI funding, financial years 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024 report. For the first time the report includes trend data, showing the increase.
More equal access to opportunity can tackle regional disparity
UKRI invested £9.1 billion in the UK’s research and innovation system in the 2023 to 2024 financial year (6 April 2023 and ends on 5 April 2024), up from £8.4 billion in 2022 to 2023 and £7.8 billion in 2021 to 2022.
Commenting on the report, Jessica Corner, who heads UKRI’s strategy on regional investment, said: “The government has made it clear that economic growth and more equal access to opportunity are key elements of its ambition to tackle regional disparities in the UK. Investing in research and innovation is a vital part of the way we boost productivity, wages, jobs and living standards across the country.”
Invested £17 billion across the UK
The proportion of funding invested outside London, the South East and East of England, rose to 50% in 2023 to 2024, up from 49% in 2022 to 2023 and 47% in 2021 in 2022. UKRI’s annual reports and accounts show that in the 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024 financial years (6 April 2022 to 5 April 2024), UKRI invested a combined £17 billion across the UK.
