The new Northern Ireland Science Park has a crucial role in future economic prosperity, the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Sir Reg Empey, said yesterday.
He was speaking on board HMS Caroline, anchored in Belfast Lough, at an event to mark the beginning of construction of the innovation centre at the Northern Ireland Science Park site in Belfast's Titanic Quarter.
The innovation centre will be the first part of the Science Park to be constructed and will provide a state-of-the-art communications network, accommodation and conference facilities.
The Northern Ireland Science Park Foundation has been charged with constructing 400,000 sq ft of high specification buildings across its Belfast, Derry and Coleraine sites, where it is hoped 3,000 jobs will be created. The innovation centre is co-financed by the International Fund for Ireland with £2 million sterling (€3.25 million) in "pump-priming" funds for the development of the facility.
The minister said yesterday the project's long-term goal was to cater for new spin-out companies from university and industry, while seeking to attract research and development units from indigenous firms and inward investors.
