NI to receive £30m from Government's £86bn science and tech fund
It is part of a £86bn research and design (R&D) fund to be announced in Wednesday's spending review, aimed at boosting innovation across the UK.
Part of this is a Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, which will provide awards of at least £30m to seven 'established mayoral strategic authorities' in England, as well as to one equivalent region in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It is anticipated that the funding award for NI will go towards our defence manufacturing sector.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said Britain is the 'home of science and technology'.
'Through the Plan for Change, we are investing in Britain's renewal to create jobs, protect our security against foreign threats, and make working families better off,' she said.
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle said: 'R&D is the very foundation of the breakthroughs that make our lives easier and healthier — from new medicines enabling us to live longer, more fulfilled lives to developments in AI giving us time back, from easing our train journeys through to creating the technology we need to protect our planet from climate change.
'Incredible and ambitious research goes on in every corner of our country, from Liverpool to Inverness, Swansea to Belfast, which is why empowering regions to harness local expertise and skills for all of our benefit is at the heart of this new funding, helping to deliver the economic growth at the centre of our Plan for Change.'
Alliance Party MP Sorcha Eastwood welcomed the announcement.
'Northern Ireland is a fantastic place to do business, with many start-ups as well as established companies. This funding will boost economic growth and spur on innovation,' she said.
'In my constituency of Lagan Valley, companies like Cirdan have already benefited from the UK Investment Fund and are leading the way in innovations in medicine, which are improving life for people around the world.
'I'm certain that this money will allow other businesses throughout Northern Ireland to thrive in the same way.
'Lagan Valley is strategically located along the Belfast-Dublin economic corridor and is already home to many businesses that will be able to benefit from this funding in a way that will improve regional economic balance.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
30 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Winter fuel U-turn should have come a long time ago, Reeves told
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said on Monday that nine million pensioners will be in receipt of the payment this year after a cut was announced in the first weeks of the Labour Government last summer. The initial decision was met with heavy backlash and forced the Scottish Government to delay the implementation of its own devolved benefit. John Swinney's administration later announced a similar payment for pensioners which would be tapered and see those on the highest incomes receiving £100, compared to £305.10 for those on the least. Monday's announcement will result in cash being sent to the devolved administration at Holyrood, and Scottish Labour has urged the Government to increase its payments. But Scotland's Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the decision was 'a betrayal' of pensioners. 'I welcome any extension of eligibility by the UK Government, but this is a U-turn the Chancellor should have made a long time ago,' she said. 'But there is still no detail about how the Chancellor intends to go about that. Unfortunately, it still sounds as if many pensioners will miss out.' Ms Somerville added that the Scottish Government had not been consulted on the decision and urged UK ministers to 'ensure the Scottish Government is fully appraised of the proposed changes as soon as possible'. 'The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury last week to urge the UK Government to share its plans with us as quickly as possible, so that we can understand any implications for our own programmes and, crucially, our budget,' she said. Scottish Labour MSP Paul O'Kane said: 'The winter fuel payment is a devolved payment in Scotland and Scottish Labour has long been clear that we want to see it reinstated for the majority of pensioners up here – but despite their loud spin, the SNP voted against our attempts to do so. 'The SNP must not go ahead with plans that would rob poorer pensioners in order to fund payments for millionaires. 'The SNP must re-examine their own proposals in light of this game-changing announcement, ensure payments reach those most in need, and give a cast-iron guarantee that no struggling Scottish pensioners will be left out of pocket under their plans.' The Scottish Government's plans were initially to provide a universal payment to pensioners, but the proposals were scuppered by the Chancellor's announcement of the cut last summer, forcing ministers to create a different system for this winter.
Leader Live
30 minutes ago
- Leader Live
Winter fuel U-turn should have come a long time ago, Reeves told
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said on Monday that nine million pensioners will be in receipt of the payment this year after a cut was announced in the first weeks of the Labour Government last summer. The initial decision was met with heavy backlash and forced the Scottish Government to delay the implementation of its own devolved benefit. John Swinney's administration later announced a similar payment for pensioners which would be tapered and see those on the highest incomes receiving £100, compared to £305.10 for those on the least. Monday's announcement will result in cash being sent to the devolved administration at Holyrood, and Scottish Labour has urged the Government to increase its payments. But Scotland's Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the decision was 'a betrayal' of pensioners. 'I welcome any extension of eligibility by the UK Government, but this is a U-turn the Chancellor should have made a long time ago,' she said. 'But there is still no detail about how the Chancellor intends to go about that. Unfortunately, it still sounds as if many pensioners will miss out.' Ms Somerville added that the Scottish Government had not been consulted on the decision and urged UK ministers to 'ensure the Scottish Government is fully appraised of the proposed changes as soon as possible'. 'The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury last week to urge the UK Government to share its plans with us as quickly as possible, so that we can understand any implications for our own programmes and, crucially, our budget,' she said. Scottish Labour MSP Paul O'Kane said: 'The winter fuel payment is a devolved payment in Scotland and Scottish Labour has long been clear that we want to see it reinstated for the majority of pensioners up here – but despite their loud spin, the SNP voted against our attempts to do so. 'The SNP must not go ahead with plans that would rob poorer pensioners in order to fund payments for millionaires. 'The SNP must re-examine their own proposals in light of this game-changing announcement, ensure payments reach those most in need, and give a cast-iron guarantee that no struggling Scottish pensioners will be left out of pocket under their plans.' The Scottish Government's plans were initially to provide a universal payment to pensioners, but the proposals were scuppered by the Chancellor's announcement of the cut last summer, forcing ministers to create a different system for this winter.
The Independent
32 minutes ago
- The Independent
Rachel Reeves warned against ‘unacceptable' London snub in spending review
London Mayor Sadiq Khan is urging Rachel Reeves to increase funding for London in the upcoming spending review, particularly for transport projects and the Metropolitan Police. Sources close to Khan warn it would be "unacceptable" if London doesn't receive the necessary funds, accusing Reeves of potentially pursuing an "anti-London agenda" similar to previous Conservative governments. City Hall is concerned London may not receive any of the £113 billion unlocked for infrastructure spending, with key priorities including extending the Docklands Light Railway and the Bakerloo underground line. Reeves has indicated a focus on prioritising spending outside of London and the South East, allocating over £15 billion to mayoral authorities in other regions. The spending review is expected to allocate a significant boost to the NHS, with other departments, including the Home Office, facing budget squeezes.
