Further Information

You can find more information on the Smart Nano NI consortium below.

UKRI Strength in Places Fund

The Strength in Places Fund is a UKRI pathfinder programme that invests in research and innovation projects to boost research and innovation capacity in specific areas of the UK, in order to drive economic growth in those areas. It does this by funding consortia of research organisations, businesses and local leadership, to deliver research and innovation that will have an impact on local economic growth. A total of £186million of SIPF funding has been allocated to date. The aims of the Strength in Places Fund are: 

  • To support innovation-led relative economic growth, closing the gap between the rate of growth in the area and nationally

  • To enhance local collaborations involving research and innovation

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 The ambitions

  • Advance the growth of a photonics cluster in Northern Ireland,  

  • Establish an integrated photonics design centre to bring photonic concepts from design to prototyping, increasing capacity to bring innovative products to markets,    

  • To inspire the next generation of Northern Ireland’s researchers, engineers, inventors and entrepreneurs through bespoke business accelerator programmes.   

  • To enable over 70 SMEs to investigate new technologies and explore potential commercial applications for their business.     

  • For manufacturing companies, it will increase knowledge in smart manufacturing with an aim of a 30% productivity growth with industry partners.