Closing the innovation gap: latest NISRA figures reveal mixed picture for Northern Ireland

28th July 2022

Commenting on the latest Business Innovation Activity survey, Civica Managing Director (NI) Mark Owens said:

Mark Owens,

Managing Director (NI),

Civica

The latest Business Innovation Activity survey paints a mixed picture for Northern Ireland.

While it’s deeply encouraging that software continues to be the number one driver of investment in innovation across Northern Ireland, we’re still, as a region, lagging behind the rest of the UK where it comes to core innovative activities such as developing new products and R&D.

Carefully targeted investment in our education system – most notably attracting more school pupils to take up STEM subjects – will be pivotal to closing that gap and ensuring Northern Ireland remains an attractive, competitive place to do business.