A new report published by Matrix suggests that with the correct investment, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help Northern Ireland businesses into economic recovery.
Chaired by Dr Adrian Johnston MBE, this study builds on the 2019 Matrix report “AI Research in Northern Ireland” which highlighted that Northern Ireland Universities represented a combined powerhouse of research excellence. Since then, the growth of and need for AI enabled technologies and data driven system innovation across prominent sectors such as Advanced Manufacturing and Financial Services has continued to accelerate.
This latest report, “Evaluation of sector opportunities for AI in NI”, looks at the economic and sectoral opportunities that a new Northern Ireland collaboration centre for AI could bring.
The AI Council “AI Roadmap” report, which was recently published along with a UKRI AI review “Transforming our world with AI”, provides recommendations of how best to accelerate the UK AI economy. These recommendations align with Northern Ireland’s ambitions to develop a world class AI Cluster within the region, contributing to and collaborating within a national AI strategy.
A key recommendation of this report is the need to ensure any Northern Ireland AI investment is responsive to future AI technology disruption. A secondary recommendation highlights the importance of a co-ordinated approach to build upon the regions strengths, develop a strong AI research and innovation ecosystem and be positioned to engage with a national AI strategy. This will enable the AI collaboration centre to respond more flexibly to future opportunities which will come through ‘levelling up’, UK AI activity and alignment on the economic priorities for post-COVID-19 recovery.
Another important recommendation was the need to develop a strong ecosystem around the AI collaboration centre, through cluster development, knowledge exchange and collaboration across business, government and academia. Doing so will remove barriers to AI adoption across many industries while stimulating the creation of new AI businesses, products and services.
Throughout this study, interviewees highlighted the considerable growth and excellence of the NI software sector as a significant strength for the region, providing a strong foundation on which Northern Ireland’s AI capabilities and skills can be built. This will be needed to drive AI excellence, adoption and support skills development in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, financial services, creative industries, life sciences and the public sector.
Dr. Adrian Johnston MBE, Matrix panellist and Chair of the study, said:
“We in Northern Ireland find ourselves with a once in a lifetime opportunity with considerable public sector AI investments on the horizon. The Belfast City and Derry City and Strabane region and growth deals propose projects which will start to address some technology adoption challenges while developing further clusters of excellence across the region.
“It is exciting to see the prospects that these investments will make to Advanced Manufacturing, Creative Industries and Health / Life Sciences economic growth. However, it is clear that the development of a Northern Ireland AI cluster can further enhance these investments providing support for the widespread adoption of AI. It is critical that grasp this opportunity both regionally and nationally to grow the NI AI economy.”
Dr Rob Grundy, Matrix Chair, said:
“This report builds upon a significant amount of work carried out to determine how Northern Ireland should harness the ability of Artificial Intelligence to profoundly impact society and the economy through specific sectoral application. It is clear that the opportunities are manifold and evolving. Establishing a Collaborative Centre that is resourced to respond to these opportunities will place Northern Ireland in pole position as we work towards a situation where all companies and organisations in Northern Ireland can avail of digital automation to improve performance.”
Minister for the Economy Diane Dodds welcomed the report, saying:
“AI is already fundamental to our lives; from monitoring our health and wellbeing, driving global business & finance, the iphones in our pockets, sat nav and instantaneous travel information to shopping online or even monitoring our online banking. And in future it will play an ever bigger role in our lives.
“Northern Ireland’s software sector is one of our great strengths – it supports and underpins every other sector and is a UK exemplar in its own right. We are already competing on the world stage in areas such as cyber security, AI, advanced manufacturing, financial services and healthcare, among others.
“I believe we must build on this and that is why I am examining the potential establishment of an AI collaboration centre for Northern Ireland. It is vital we invest in skills and innovation along with research and development if we are to continue to grow this important sector.”