Matrix - Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel

Economy Minister met the MATRIX panel today, to discuss strengthening Northern Ireland's economic advantage through Research and Development (R&D), science and technology.

At its fourth meeting "MATRIX - The Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel" Chairman, Professor Damien McDonnell and ten technology and business-led expert panel members discussed the work being undertaken by the five panels of the Horizon Programme.

Commenting on MATRIX's work, the Minister, said: "The commercial exploitation of Northern Ireland's world class science, technology and R&D base is critical to the future development of our knowledge economy.

"MATRIX is a reservoir of top-class expertise and it will increasingly become the forum for leadership and promotion of new approaches to profit from science."

The Minister continued: "Professor McDonnell and his colleagues were approached to form MATRIX because of their extensive knowledge, experience in the field of exploiting science, technology and R&D. The panel's advice and guidance will be of great value in developing future economic policy."

Professor McDonnell, said: "We are liaising with key stakeholders in high-technology business, the academic sector and the education community across Northern Ireland to develop advice and guidance for Minister Dodds and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment, which will support informed future policy development.

"My MATRIX colleagues and I share the Minister's commitment to securing Northern Ireland's future as a high-technology based regional economy and we look forward to bringing forward our first recommendations by the spring."

MATRIX has commissioned a unique "Technologies Capabilities and Market Opportunities" mapping exercise for Northern Ireland. This wide-ranging study underpins the work of 'MATRIX' separate Horizon Programme, through which five expert technology and market foresight panels have been established. These panels will analyse future commercialisation opportunities in the key sectors of Agrifood, Transport, Information Communication Technology, Life & Health Sciences and Advanced Materials.