Matrix - Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel

Matrix: Northern Ireland Science and Industry Panel Chairman, Professor Damien McDonnell, OBE, today welcomed the Royal Irish Academy's Chemical and Physical Sciences Committee for their first visit to Northern Ireland. MATRIX is a business led expert panel, formed to advise government on the commercial exploitation of R&D and science and technology in Northern Ireland. It was formed to help address the challenges that Northern Ireland faces in trying to remain competitive in the globalised marketplace.

Speaking at the event, Damien McDonnell said:
"The Royal Irish Academy draws on its unique position as the academy for the sciences and humanities for the whole of Ireland to inform its role as an authoritative, objective and independent voice for the academic community on policies that affect higher-education teaching and learning, and research in Ireland.

The work of the Academy's Chemical and Physical Sciences Committee directly dovetails with the work of the MATRIX Panel. As we strive to create a knowledge-based economy we hope to utilise the wealth of experience and research excellence within the Academy. Our work to date has been to identify key global markets where Northern Ireland can commercially exploit its research strengths in specific areas of science, technology and innovation to ensure that over the next decade we transform the local economy. Today's meeting of the Royal Irish Academy's Chemical and Physical Sciences Committee in Belfast will help us greatly over the next few weeks as we compile a report to the Minister on how Northern Ireland can utilise our research and technical strengths to compete in this increasingly globalised and competitive marketplace."

The work of the MATRIX Panel has shown that business engagement with the science and technology research base is essential if Northern Ireland is to grow a world class knowledge based economy. The Northern Ireland universities have proven themselves world class in core areas of science and technology research and our FE colleges are reorganising to be more responsive to the needs of business.

There has been improvement with the General Expenditure on R&D in Northern Ireland in 2006 amounting to £319.2m, an increase of 5.5% on the previous year, 2005, which itself had experienced a 9% increase on 2004. In addition Business Expenditure on R&D in 2006 was £155.4 million, the highest figure recorded since the record of £173.5million in 2002. In 2006, small and medium sized firms accounted for 53% of the R&D spend - indicating increased SME engagement in innovation and R&D, however, this also meant that 63% of firms engaged in R&D in the region accounted for just 26% of spend.

In order to counter this trend MATRIX is playing a key role in publicising the value of exploiting R&D and science and technology to NI businesses. It will enhance and develop important networks, including links with other UK RSICs, as well as other relevant or equivalent bodies such as the RoI's Advisory Science Council. MATRIX also provides a collegiate multi-disciplinary hub through which new thinking and new synergies will increase the potential for new innovation.

The challenge identified by MATRIX is to improve the linkages between industry and the science, engineering and technology (SET) base and ensure that we are all working towards a common goal of a vibrant local high-technology economy that cements Northern Ireland's reputation in global markets.