Minister Launches New Connected Health Innovation Centre

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has launched the new £7m Connected Health Innovation Centre (CHIC) at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown.

CHIC is the result of a £6.8m investment by a consortium of leading technology companies and is being supported by a £5m R&D offer from Invest Northern Ireland.

The centre, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, represents a new approach to funding R&D, placing greater emphasis on collaboration and industry leadership.

Launching the centre, Arlene Foster said: "The Connected Health Innovation Centre will bring together leading academic and industry researchers to carry out strategic research focused on connected health solutions. This collaboration will see businesses, universities and health providers innovating together to create new products and services that will improve healthcare provision and deliver real benefits for Northern Ireland companies.

"Northern Ireland is leading the way in the field of Connected Health and this new centre further consolidates that position, and provides an excellent forum within which to develop innovative approaches to the provision of health and social services."

(CD/JP)