18th December 2001

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The University of Ulster’s five-star performance in the UK research assessment exercise is set to bring over £12 million of additional investment to Northern Ireland over the next five years, UU chiefs have revealed.

The £12m is in addition to the University’s current level of research investment, now standing at £25m per year.

Professor John Hughes, the University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development), said the University of Ulster’s world class performance would have positive implications for prosperity and job creation in Northern Ireland - and allow the University to access new external income streams.

"The better our research is rated, the more external funding we can attract, thus driving innovation and growth in our economy and society . Together with our £24m Science Parks investment across Northern Ireland and our successful spin-off companies, and our £10m Venture Capital initiative, I am confident that we stand on the threshold of greater things".

Leading industrialist Alan McClure OBE, Managing Director of Perfecseal and President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the UU achievement, declaring that the University’s perfomance was a much needed ‘shot in the arm’ for economic regeneration in Northern Ireland .

"This world class performance by the University of Ulster means that Northern Ireland industry and commerce can face the competitive future with the confidence of having a research resource that can compete with anywhere in the world.

"The University has significantly improved the quality of its research in the fields crucial to the new global economy. Its research performance is second to none in the health and biomedical sector, information communications technologies, energy efficiency and sustainable technologies, and innovative materials."

Looking to the future, UU Vice Chancellor Professor McKenna revealed that the foundation stone for a new £17.5 million Centre for Molecular Biosciences is to be laid at the Coleraine campus early in the New Year. "We are firmly on the map and our ambitions have been given great impetus by these outstanding results. They show clearly that in Northern Ireland we have outstanding talent and the ability to come top of the class".

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk