The 2015 Knowledge Economy Index was launched today in Belfast. The launch, which was held at Brewbot on the Ormeau Road, brought together representatives from business, government and academia to hear from NISP Connect director Stephen Orr, Acting First Minister Arlene Foster and local entrepreneurs. This year's index has revealed [...]
It’s been quite a while since Matrix, the Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel, stepped up to the mark with a report on what is a key sector of the local economy. Back in 2008, it took a closer look at advanced engineering and advanced materials in separate reports. One member of the panel back then was Dr. Rob Hardeman, Technologist at Seagate’s [...]
Tom Gray, Group CTO of digital solutions company Kainos and Matrix panellist, has been appointed as Chairman of the Northern Ireland network of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). One of the main aims of the IET over the next year will be to inspire and nurture the next [...]
About 35% of current jobs in the UK are at high risk of computerisation over the following 20 years, according to a study by researchers at Oxford University and Deloitte. Deloitte analysed ONS labour force data for the period between 2001 and 2015 and their researchers found the proportion of routine [...]
The Northern Ireland Science Park is expanding in a £6.5m investment part-funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. This could mean that Belfast Titanic Quarter development will be able to accommodate another 500 technology jobs. Around 2,600 people currently work at the science parks in Belfast and Londonderry. The latest development [...]
Hawk Protection, a Tyrone based military uniform manufacturer, in Co Tyrone has landed part of a $49m (£32m) contract with the US Army to provide bullet-proof vests. The company is part of the Cooneen textile group and they will deliver the contract jointly with Bethel Industries and KDH Defence Industries. The deal [...]
The Northern Ireland Polymers Association (NIPA) is one of 5 organisations chosen to test new ways to develop skills for innovation in manufacturing. NIPA, in conjunction with CITB Northern Ireland, is collaborating to develop innovation skills between the polymers and construction industries in Northern Ireland. Both industries have complementary skillsets [...]
Do you work in Advanced Manufacturing, Materials or Engineering? We want to hear your thoughts on the future of your sector in Northern Ireland. It is just under 7 years since MATRIX completed its original Advanced Materials and Engineering studies. We are now undertaking a comprehensive review of the conclusions and [...]
The new Matrix website has been nominated for two categories in the Irish Web Awards 2015. The nominations are for Best Government Website and Best Science & Technology Website. Judging will take place over the next few weeks. Previous winners of Web Awards have included IrishTimes.com, Luas.ie, Broadsheet.ie, DoneDeal.ie, Siliconrepublic.com and thejournal.ie. [...]
The latest Northern Ireland A Level results have shown a marked rise overall in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) subjects since 2004. We wanted to see whether this was part of a longer term trend, so we asked CCEA if they could provide us with figures for the last [...]
Innovate UK and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) are to invest up to £20m in collaborative research & development projects to significantly reduce the mass of road-going vehicles. The aim is to bring together and develop the best UK supply chain capability and expertise in the areas of advanced lightweight materials, [...]
Twenty-two international students from 15 different countries have been welcomed to Northern Ireland at a reception held at Riddel Hall, Queen’s University Belfast, yesterday. Hailing from countries as diverse as Slovenia, Brazil and the United States, they’re here as part of the global exchange scheme IAESTE, (the International Association for [...]