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.
