A major new collaboration designed to improve health outcomes while driving economic growth has been launched in Northern Ireland.
The Academic, Health and Economic Partnership, a joint initiative led by the Department of Health and the Department for the Economy, aims to accelerate the development, testing and adoption of healthcare innovations across the region.
Officially unveiled at NICON 2026, the partnership brings together leaders from health and social care, academia, industry, government and local communities. Its goal is to create a more coordinated route from research and innovation through to implementation, helping promising ideas deliver measurable benefits for patients and the wider economy.
The initiative will focus on identifying priority healthcare challenges, supporting innovators in developing and trialling new solutions, and speeding up the adoption of proven technologies and approaches across health and social care services.
By strengthening collaboration between research institutions, healthcare organisations and industry, the AH&EP hopes to ensure Northern Ireland can convert its internationally recognised expertise in health and life sciences into tangible improvements for patients and communities.
The launch comes at a time when Northern Ireland is seeking to reinforce its reputation as a leading destination for health and life sciences investment, building on increasing interest from global investors and companies operating within the sector.
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."
The partnership is expected to play a significant role in helping Northern Ireland address growing healthcare pressures while creating opportunities for investment, research collaboration and high-value economic development.
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