Collaboration between industry and academia key to Northern Ireland’s economic growth

With over 5,000 additional skilled workers needed annually to grow the Northern Ireland economy, experts say deeper collaboration between business, academia and government is essential to future-proof priority sectors and boost productivity.

Initiatives like the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) — which connects companies with academic expertise — are already driving innovation, job creation, and digital transformation across the region. From AI adoption to process automation, partnerships with universities and colleges are helping companies stay competitive while equipping workers with in-demand skills.

Greater collaboration, experts argue, will unlock lifelong learning, support upskilling and ensure Northern Ireland remains globally competitive in the face of digitalisation and automation.

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