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Industry Minister Sarah Jones visits Belfast to welcome local investments including £30m for innovative tech projects and £2m for Queen’s University Belfast’s cutting-edge cyber AI tech hub.
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Minister to host roundtables with Northern Ireland industry leaders including Artemis Technologies, Thales, Harland & Wolff, Ionic Technologies to promote Industrial Strategy benefits for local people.
Science and technology projects in Northern Ireland in key industries of the future, such as cybersecurity, are set to be boosted by at least £30 million from the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy.
Industry Minister Sarah Jones visited Belfast today to celebrate this news and other recent wins for the city that are delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change to increase economic growth and jobs.
Delivered as part of the UK Government’s modern Industrial Strategy, the package, to be allocated by local leaders, will build on successful pilots in other parts of the UK which have attracted more than £140 million of private investment and created hundreds of jobs so far.
The new funding could go to support Northern Ireland’s thriving cybersecurity sector, which is home to 100 businesses and 2,750 jobs. It comes on top of £2 million of UK Government funding for Queen’s University Belfast’s Cybersecurity AI Tech Hub, confirmed in June, helping Northern Ireland lead the way on cutting-edge technology to keep the UK safe.
UK Government Industry Minister Sarah Jones said:
From defence and cyber to the creative industries Northern Ireland’s economy has great strengths, which is why I’m in Belfast speaking to businesses about how our modern Industrial Strategy can help them grow and create well-paid jobs for local people.
This includes millions for Northern Ireland’s cyber and tech sectors, £1.6 billion supporting Thales to make missiles for Ukraine, and an Enhanced Investment Zone to tear down barriers to growth and boost prosperity across Northern Ireland, as part of our Plan for Change.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said:
This is great news for Northern Ireland and for the businesses that will benefit from this Government’s modern Industrial Strategy.
The investment being announced today will create new opportunities, support long-term growth and innovation, create high-quality jobs, and strengthen fast-growing sectors like advanced manufacturing and the creative industries.
Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing sectors are also being boosted via a wider package of support from the Government’s Industrial Strategy – from advanced manufacturing to creative industries – which Minister Jones celebrated today with visits to some of Northern Ireland’s top companies and employers.
This included defence, cybersecurity and aerospace firm Thales, which was recently awarded a £1.6 billion missile contract with UK Government backing to defend Ukraine, creating 200 new jobs and supporting 700 highly skilled existing jobs.
Minister Jones then visited Ionic Technologies to see their progress so far in developing a rare earth magnetic recycling process to support the UK’s electric vehicle transition, following a £11 million grant from the Government in June.
She visited Harland & Wolff’s iconic Belfast shipyard for an update on their commitments to invest in Northern Ireland and to discuss opportunities to work together to deliver local growth and investment through the Industrial Strategy.
Demonstrating the Government’s commitment to Northern Ireland’s success, it comes after the Chancellor’s visit to Belfast earlier this month where she confirmed £310 million for the Belfast Region City Deal, including over £25 million for world class virtual production studio, Studio Ulster, and £137 million to tackle paramilitarism and create safer streets.
Designs are also underway for a bespoke Enhanced Investment Zone for Northern Ireland, delivered with the Executive, which will tear away barriers to growth and could include further new funding, tax and investment incentives.
The ministerial visits this summer will be followed on 11 September by the Government’s Made in the UK, Sold to the World Roadshow in Belfast. It will put a spotlight on the city’s creative sector and will host 18 market experts from around the world, including from the US, Germany and UAE.
Notes to editors
- The Local Innovation Partnerships Fund has so far earmarked at least £30 million each for ten regions across the UK, with 7 English regions confirmed alongside the Glasgow City Region, Cardiff Capital Region, and the Belfast to Derry-Londonderry Corridor.
Information on the upcoming Made in the UK, Sold to the World Roadshow:
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The Made in the UK, Sold to the World Roadshow takes place in Belfast on Thursday 11 September at The MAC. Businesses will have the opportunity to meet with relevant, overseas creative buyers, and sector/market specialists from UK embassies and consulates overseas.
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There will also be peer learning sessions, workshops focusing on overseas markets and developing your international strategy, networking opportunities and an inspiring and informative seminar programme. Whether you are a Creative business or sit in another sector, join us in Belfast by registering here.
