NIRPN January 2025 Event
Driving Regional Balance and Connectivity: Northern Ireland Research Professionals Network Gathers in Derry/Londonderry
The Northern Ireland Research Professionals Network (NIRPN) recently held its first event outside Belfast - reinforcing the network’s commitment to engaging across Northern Ireland. Hosted in The City Hotel Derry/Londonderry, the event brought together research professionals from across Northern Ireland to explore how interconnected networks can drive impactful research and innovation.
Strengthening Networks Across Northern Ireland
Opening the event, Chris Browne, Head of Research Strategy and Engagement at Queen’s University Belfast highlighted the importance of expanding connections and encouraged attendees to consider how research professionals can bridge gaps, support isolated colleagues, and push forward the regional balance agenda.
Updates and New Initiatives
Alice Dubois, Research Culture Manager, Queen’s University Belfast provided an update on NIRPN’s pilot initiative, the Organisational Insight Exchange Programme, designed to enable research and innovation professionals to interact with colleagues from different organisations and sectors.
Addressing Regional Balance: Policy and Research Perspectives
Keith Brown, Head of Regional Balance Unit, Department for the Economy NI set out the policy context for regional balance and its interaction with the research community. He outlined how place-based economic strategies have evolved, from initial discussions in 2011 to the current Programme for Government, which aspires to tackle regional imbalances.
Key challenges remain, including productivity gaps, engagement barriers for SMEs, and the need for better cross-sectoral collaboration. He highlighted efforts to address these, including the recent sub-regional economic plan, developed in partnership with local councils, and the planned establishment of an advisory panel on regional balance. He emphasised the importance of communication, trust-building, and ensuring research professionals play an active role in shaping policy solutions.
Maximising the Value of Research and Innovation Networks
Professor Victor Gault, Associate Dean (R&I, Life & Health Sciences), Senior Responsible Owner (Centre for Food & Drug Discovery, City and Growth Deal project) Ulster University reinforced the value of networks, noting that research professionals often don’t take enough time to engage beyond their immediate roles. He shared insights from Ulster University’s Coleraine campus, where strong industry partnerships in biomedical sciences have driven research success. He also highlighted the role of City & Growth Deals in providing capital investment, while posing the key question: how can research professionals ensure these investments also stimulate long-term innovation and impact?
Professor Gault stressed that for these initiatives to succeed, they must be inclusive, involving all stakeholders from pre to post award. By fostering stronger collaboration across different research hubs, Northern Ireland can generate jobs, support spin-out companies, and drive higher productivity.
Supporting Businesses in Innovation and R&D
Dr. Vicky Kell, Director of Innovation, Research & Development at Invest NI, shared valuable insights into how the organisation supports businesses in navigating the complex R&D funding landscape. Increasing regional engagement and drawing more companies into the innovation space remains a key priority.
Two major collaborative successes—the Smart Nano Corridor and Belfast Maritime Consortium—were showcased as examples of how businesses, academia, and government can work together to foster innovation and drive progress.
Breakout Discussions: Challenges & Opportunities
Finally, breakout discussions explored key themes around regional balance in research and innovation (R&I) in Northern Ireland. Participants considered what regional balance looks like in NI along with the challenges and opportunities involved. Another key focus was the role of R&I professionals in driving progress and how the network can support this. Throughout the event, a recurring theme was the need for more joined-up thinking and collaboration to address regional disparities in research and innovation. Attendees discussed ways to:
Strengthen cross-sectoral engagement and communication
Support SMEs in accessing research expertise and funding
Ensure that research plays a central role in regional economic planning
Leverage networks like NIRPN to build stronger, more inclusive partnerships
The event concluded with a strong sense of momentum and commitment to continuing the conversation.
Details of the next NIRPN event will be shared soon.