New partnership to drive health innovation and economic growth in Northern Ireland
Date published:
A new partnership aimed at improving health outcomes and supporting economic growth across Northern Ireland was launched today.
The Academic, Health and Economic Partnership (AH&EP), a joint initiative led by the Department of Health and the Department for the Economy, will help Northern Ireland translate its health and life sciences research and clinical expertise into real-world impact.
The partnership includes health leaders, academia, industry and government partners, and was launched at NICON 2026. It brings together health and social care, universities, industry and communities to develop, test and scale innovations that improve people's health while supporting economic growth and investment.
The AH&EP will identify priority health challenges, support the development and testing of innovations and accelerate the adoption of proven solutions across the health and social care. This will create a more joined-up pathway from discovery to implementation and scale.
The launch comes as Northern Ireland seeks to strengthen its position as a leading location for health and life sciences, building on growing interest from investors and life sciences companies.
Speaking at the launch, Mike Farrar, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health said:
"Northern Ireland faces significant health challenges, from increasing demand for services to the growing burden of long-term conditions. At the same time, we have exceptional assets: a single integrated health and social care system, internationally recognised research expertise, innovative businesses and committed partners across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
“The AH&EP brings these strengths together behind a shared ambition. Our goal is simple: to improve health outcomes for our population by making it easier to develop, test, adopt and scale innovation. If we get this right, patients will benefit from better care, staff will have access to more effective solutions, and Northern Ireland will be recognised internationally as a place where innovation can thrive and deliver real impact."
Christine Robinson, Deputy Secretary, Economic Policy Group at the Department for the Economy, said:
"The Life and Health Sciences sector is one of Northern Ireland's greatest economic opportunities, underpinned by world-class research, innovative businesses and strong collaborative partnerships.
“Through this partnership, we want to strengthen the link between health improvement and economic growth. By accelerating the development, adoption and scaling of innovation, we can attract investment, support indigenous businesses, create high-value jobs and enhance Northern Ireland's reputation as a leading location for health innovation. This partnership is about delivering tangible benefits for citizens, patients, businesses and communities while supporting a more productive and sustainable economy."
The AH&EP was formally launched at NICON 2026, Northern Ireland's leading conference for health and social care leaders.
Notes to editors:
- Pic caption (L-R): Dr Paul Rice, DoH; Prof Ian Bruce, QUB; Mike Farrar, DoH Permanent Secretary; Christine Robinson, DfE; Jonathan Patton, SEHSCT; Tom Keith-Roach, AstraZeneca UK.
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