THROUGH MATRIX, BUSINESS WILL
TAKE THE LEAD IN ADVISING ON HOW
NORTHERN IRELAND CAN MAXIMISE
ITS ECONOMIC RETURNS FROM THE COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION OF ITS R&D, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BASE.
In doing so MATRIX will
Provide the business community - in partnership with the public and academic sectors - with a mechanism by which to advise NI Government on policies aimed at the development of the region’s R&D, innovation and knowledge-based economy;
Advocate the development of the regional economy through the exploitation of the R&D and science base and the promotion of innovation;
Champion and develop a more effective and productive relationship between industry and the regional R&D and science/technology base;
Act as an influential and central point of coordination in building the case for resources to increase levels of exploitation from the science and technology base in the region, and maximising the gearing and leverage of public sector funding, taking all other reasonable resource priorities into account;
Maintain a strategic view of science and research for the region in overseeing the development of a Strategic Technology Horizon Scanning programme to maximise the future success of Northern Ireland’s R&D and innovation based economy;
Report directly to DETI and the DETI Minister, in recognition of that Department’s policy lead for innovation and the commercialisation of R&D and science and technology.
The Panel shall provide advice in the three main areas
Key R&D and science & technology issues affecting business innovation;
The emerging strategic technology priorities impacting on Northern Ireland’s economy;
The promotion of a culture of innovation and the importance of R&D and science & technology in the future, particularly with business and in regard to commercial exploitation activities.
The objectives of the Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel
are as follows:
To seek to increase the economic return from science and innovation in Northern Ireland (improve behavioral attitudes in the short term and GDP in the longer term);
To commission research, analysis and studies, to assist DETI in building the evidence base for future science and R&D policies within the wider Innovation policy context;
To act as an influential and central forum in advising on the development and promotion of the science and R&D base within both the private and public sectors;
To promote and educate the importance of science, technology and R&D to Northern Ireland and in particular business competitiveness and growth;
To build strong, mutually beneficial working relationships with partner bodies across Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom and the island of Ireland, and internationally, as appropriate.