The Chair of the Matrix Panel, Dr Robert Grundy, has given evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee’s Inquiry on Investment Northern Ireland alongside Prof Emma Flynn, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at Queens University Belfast and Philip McBride, Belfast Managing Director at Thales UK.

Dr Grundy told the Committee

We work very closely to make sure that the funding, as it comes into Northern Ireland, especially Government, is directed towards the areas that we feel can have the most impact for the whole of the UK.

This is particularly important as you mentioned inflation rising. Prosperity for people in Northern Ireland is key. Directing any investment towards area that will increase that prosperity is absolutely vital. A very joined-up and well-informed approach to apportioning that investment is really important.

Speaking about the sectors displaying strength in Northern Ireland, Dr Grundy said

The 10x strategy … mentions a number of key sectors. [T]ech, which covers a multitude of areas, but particularly cyber, fintech and the creative technologies within tech, which Northern Ireland is particularly strong in.

We cannot ignore manufacturing. We have a legacy of manufacturing excellence, but that is contemporary also. The recent Strength in Places award for advanced nanomanufacturing betrays that.

Prof Emma Flynn, Queen’s University of Belfast, speaking about the way universities and colleges can contribute to the economy told the Committee

They [Queen’s & Ulster University] are strong universities, strong FEs, better partnership and collaboration, so support for all the endeavour that we are trying to achieve. We understand our role within the economic development, but we need the support and long-term stability within that support to be able to deliver it. We cannot keep flexing and moving to something new every year. Although we need to be responsive, we also need to have some stability within that response.

Speaking about the potential for Defence Tech, Philip McBride, of Thales UK said

Investment in the defence arena is important. I do not say that merely because I work in the defence sector. It is the investment that will drive many of the other industries and supply chains within Northern Ireland, which I feel are somewhat underinvested. MOD itself, in its “Defence in a Competitive Age” report in March 2021 outlined that Northern Ireland is one of the weakest-funded areas of the UK, with £40 per capita spent on defence in Northern Ireland, versus £290 in Wales, £380 in Scotland and between £500 and £1,000 in England, depending on the region. The impact on the local economy in Northern Ireland could be enormous, in terms of defence contracting into Northern Ireland and the subsequent impact on the supply chain.

This was the second session of the Investment in Northern Ireland inquiry and heard perspectives from Northern Ireland on the effectiveness of the UK Government’s investment strategies in supporting scientific research and innovation and on improving skills development.

The inquiry looks at how these programmes may address long-standing economic issues in the region, and what further steps can be taken to stimulate investment, including foreign direct investment, in Northern Ireland.

The transcript to the oral evidence session is available here.