Latest news

The MATRIX website is home to the latest Northern Ireland science & technology news, the most relevant reports and of course our own studies on Northern Ireland’s tech sectors and how best to grow them.

  • from left, Tara Thompson, Engagement and Support Team Manager, National Centre for Earth Observation, Rebecca Corey, EO Data Lead – EO & Climate, UK Space Agency, Andrew Stanniland, CEO, Thales Alenia Space UK, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, Chair of STEM and Aerospace APG, Robert Hill, NI SPACE Cluster Manager and Chair of DfE Matrix Science and Industry Panel, Prof John Remedios, Director, National Centre for Earth Observation, Krupa Nanda Kumar, Climate Services Development Manager Space4Climate and Louise Long, DfE Director of Innovation, Research and Enterprise.

Matrix attends Space week Launch in Stormont

October 11th, 2024|

Matrix was delighted to support the recent UK launch of World Space Week, with “Space and Climate Change,” as this year’s theme. The event brought together leaders from government, industry, and academia to discuss the role of space technologies in driving global climate solutions. The launch was organised by the NI Space Cluster, National Centre for Earth Observation and Space4Climate [...]

Matrix attend AI Con in Titanic Belfast

October 11th, 2024|

Matrix was thrilled to sponsor AI Con 2024, Northern Ireland's leading AI conference, showcasing the latest advancements and innovations in artificial intelligence. It was a busy day for Matrix as our secretariat team at our stand engaged with attendees at the exhibition space, who shared their insights on the evolving landscape of AI technology. Deputy Chair Patricia O’Hagan and panel [...]

DfE Placement Student’s Experience at NI International Airshow 2024.

September 12th, 2024|

Matrix’s panel members and secretariat team attended The 2024 Airshow in Portrush, accompanied by Sam Dodds, a Student Placement in the Department For the Economy. Sam has documented his thoughts of the weekend below:   Recently I had the opportunity to attend the NI International Airshow in Portrush as part of the Matrix team. Throughout the day I was able [...]

What is Matrix?

MATRIX, the Northern Ireland Science Industry Panel, is a business led expert panel, formed primarily to advise government, industry and academia on the commercial exploitation of R&D and science and technology in Northern Ireland.

We produce regular, in depth reports which outline the work, findings and recommendations of our specialist panels. These reports are an invaluable resource for anyone interested in how new technologies and market opportunities can be developed within the Northern Ireland economy and beyond.

The Matrix panel

We have a main panel of nineteen business and academic leaders, supported by a small secretariat team based in the Department for the Economy. The Chair of the panel is Robert Hill.

What Matrix does

The MATRIX panel commissions research, analysis and studies, to help DfE build the evidence base for future science and R&D policies within wider innovation policy.

The Matrix panel advises in three main areas:

  • Key R&D and science & technology issues affecting business innovation

  • The emerging strategic technology priorities impacting on Northern Ireland’s economy

  • The promotion of a culture of innovation and the importance of R&D and science & technology in the future, particularly with business and in regard to commercial exploitation activities.

The Matrix library

This library is a collection of Matrix reports as well as documents that the Matrix panel and secretariat have used in their research. The most recent additions to the library are here – if you want to see the full collection, arranged by topic, please visit the library section.

Latest science and technology events

Live SBRIs and other funding competitions

The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) connects public sector challenges with innovative ideas from industry, supporting companies to generate economic growth and enabling improvement in achieving government objectives.

SBRI provides innovative solutions to challenges faced by the public sector and generates new business opportunities for companies, providing SMEs with a route to market for their ideas and bridging the seed funding gap experienced by many early stage companies. It supports economic growth and enables the development of innovative products and services through the public procurement of research and development (R&D).

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