A Skilled Workforce
Northern Ireland has two world-class universities Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University and an extensive network of further education colleges providing excellent academic and vocational training.
Both universities are responsive to business, creating graduates with skills, competency and acumen in business-relevant areas.
Over 4,000* people graduate each year with business qualifications in Northern Ireland.
* Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency
Northern Ireland is a great choice for overseas students seeking a high quality education abroad. It also provides a great offering for overseas governments, ministries and education providers who are looking for a partner region to support the development of their own education provision or to forge research partnerships.
Signs of Growth
Recognised as the second largest economy worldwide, China is one of the first countries to begin its economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, presenting significant export opportunities for both small and medium sized enterprises (SME) and large businesses from Northern Ireland.
Exporting opportunities
The Chinese market has potential business opportunities in the materials handling, life and health sciences, education, and food and drink sectors. Invest NI’s Asia Pacific team can help local companies compete there with location and sector specific research, local market advice and entry strategies, and information on supply and distribution networks.
There are also a number of in-market trade fairs and exhibitions planned in the upcoming months and although global travel restrictions are still in place, our in-market team can provide a physical presence for Northern Ireland companies, delivering vital promotional opportunities in China.
Following the relaxation of strict quarantine measures and continued government support, China’s economy is starting to recover. Currently most of the country’s large businesses and 80% of its SMEs have successfully returned to work and the economy grew by 3.2% in the second quarter of FY 2020.21. Although the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts the global economy will shrink by 4.9% in 2020, they expect China’s economy to grow by 1%, making it a very attractive market for Northern Ireland businesses.
The Chinese government and local economic development agencies have also initiated a number of economic recovery measures.
Economic recovery measures include:
- Reducing tax, rent and medical insurance
- Introducing free-trade zones across the country
- Boosting consumer spend through voucher schemes
- Creating loan extension and credit loan support tools for SMEs
- Delivering virtual trade fairs and exhibitions
Materials Handling
The Chinese government has already invested £1.15trillion in new infrastructure with over 20 provinces committing to increase their infrastructure investment. These commitments have contributed to a 62.9% growth in sales of excavators in China, providing significant export opportunities for Northern Ireland companies in the materials handling sector.
At the height of the pandemic in April, we represented six local companies at Asia’s most popular environmental technology solutions trade fair, IE Expo. At this event, we promoted Northern Ireland’s materials handling proposition to 73,000 delegates. Moving forward, we will also attend November’s Bauma China 2020 exhibition and IE Expo 2021 in April.
China will undoubtedly be one of the largest potential markets for waste recycling in the coming years. It presents enormous business opportunities for Northern Ireland companies. We are glad to see increasing interest in the Chinese market from the materials handling industry in Northern Ireland. IE Expo has been a successful start as the first physical exhibition for waste recycling sector in 2020.
Damon Peng, Materials Handling China: Sector Head, Invest NI
Life and Health Sciences
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the strengths and weaknesses in China’s life and health sciences sector. The Chinese government is now encouraging foreign collaboration on health and life science projects to help address these weaknesses, providing opportunities for local companies.
In August, we represented six Northern Ireland companies at the China Association of Clinical Laboratory Practice Expo (CACLP), providing valuable promotional platform. CACLP is the largest, most influential in vitro diagnostics exhibition in China, attended by 50,000 delegates.
To help develop trade opportunities and generate business leads we will represent a number of local companies at China’s largest medical device exhibition, CMEF from 20th to 21st October.
As part of this exhibition we will host a seminar in partnership with the Department for International Trade for the neuroscience, medical technologies and diagnostic sectors, which will showcase the skills and expertise available from Northern Ireland companies.
China is already the second largest life and health sciences market globally, and will undoubtedly be one of the largest global IVD markets. The country’s in vitro diagnostics market exceeded $14.5 billion in 2019, and there is vast opportunities for Northern Ireland companies to export and trade with this sector in China.
Monica Ren, Life and Health Sciences China; Sector Head, Invest NI
Education
Social distancing measures have had a transformational impact on the education sector globally. Distance learning is the norm with many academic institutions opting for virtual delivery as the default teaching method, presenting opportunities for Northern Ireland businesses offering collaborative online learning solutions.
Northern Ireland companies catering for the education sector (particularly teacher training), which have developed, or are in the process of developing sophisticated online delivery models are particularly well-placed to capitalise on these opportunities.
Online education is flourishing in China:
- International schools require online tutoring resources for almost 200,000 pupils
- Around 60,000 pupils enrolled in UK schools are currently studying remotely from China due to travel restrictions
- The Department of International Trade in China predicts 35% traditional delivery schools will close
- 40% of businesses offering online learning are expected to hire more staff
- Demand is rising for online teacher training courses
To highlight the benefits of choosing Northern Ireland as overseas study destination, we will be attending the virtual China Education Exhibition (CEE) between 24 October and 1 November, showcasing what our local universities and colleges can offer students from China.
Food and Drink
China has seen an increase in sales of red meat, dairy, seafood and drinks and has used imported products to help meet local demand. This, along with a new emphasis on healthier eating, is paving the way for new export opportunities for Northern Ireland food and drink businesses. We are attending the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in November and are looking forward to promoting our local companies to the Chinese market.
Opportunities in China
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed the world and transformed our way of life. From the speedy development of vaccines to a more digitalised approach to working, humanity has learned just how agile it can be in a crisis.
As the saying goes, out of adversity comes opportunity, and nowhere has that proved to be more evident than in the medical technology sector in China which has grown, in part, due to high demand from China for mid to high-end equipment. This growth presents a significant opportunity for Northern Ireland’s Life and Health Sciences industry to export its cutting-edge products to meet this demand.
Devices that simplify the prevention, detection and treatment of illness and disease are not new, yet the pandemic has increased demand for these products. From wearables and implants that can detect and treat health problems to artificial intelligence-enabled imaging and track-and-trace technology, the Med-Tech industry in China is predicted to experience explosive growth over the next five years. This increase in growth offers ample opportunities for Northern Ireland’s Life and Health Sciences industry to export to China.
China’s desire to build a world-leading healthcare infrastructure, reflective of the country’s ‘Healthy China 2030’ vision, has led to significant investment in the medical devices sector, which currently accounts for nearly 20% of the global market. According to Deloitte, the China market was on track to be worth RMB800 billion (US$124.2 million) by the end of 2020. This upward trend was evident even before the pandemic. Since 2015, China’s medical devices sector’s average annual growth rate has remained above 20%, significantly outpacing its GDP.
A post-COVID upgrade of the public health infrastructure is high on the agenda of the Chinese local and central governments. Some provinces have injected up to RMB 150 million (USD 23 million) into health projects. Echoing the central government’s push to increase China’s biosecurity capacity, provinces have announced their own policies to establish a minimum requirement for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) – a reliable method for detecting viruses - laboratories and ICU equipment by both region and hospital.
"Invest NI provided invaluable support as we further expand into China. They acted as an intermediate in finding potential partners, scheduling virtual meetings, and identifying opportunities suitable to our increasing product range for the medical simulation market"
Aisling Fitzpatrick, TruCorp
The pandemic has also brought healthcare into sharp focus for China's citizens. Demand for online medical consultations soared, along with the emergence of drugs retailing on some of China’s leading e-commerce platforms. Tech giants such as Tencent, Alibaba and JD.com leveraged their big data expertise to enter the healthcare sector, establishing new distribution models for medical devices and health services.
However, there is undoubtedly room for Northern Ireland’s medical devices companies to take advantage of China’s desire to overhaul its health systems. There are currently more than 26,000 medical device manufacturers registered in China, with the medical equipment sub-sector dominating the market, accounting for nearly 57% of the entire medical devices' market.
Due to a shortage of R&D and advanced manufacturing capabilities, most Chinese manufacturers are producing low value-added products, and therefore China still relies on imported mid to high-end medical devices. Deloitte recently revealed more than 80% of high-value medical devices used in China’s top Tier 3A public hospitals [1] are produced by international companies such as Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, Siemens, GE and Philips. This reliance on overseas products provides an excellent opportunity for Northern Ireland’s R&D intensive, innovative and high-tech medical device manufacturers to enter the market.
Northern Ireland’s Life and Health Sciences sector is uniquely placed to provide quality technology solutions for China’s healthcare sector. It has built a strong reputation in recent years, offering cutting-edge research in medical device technology - underpinned by its robust collaborative approach between industry, academia, and clinicians. The industry also boasts a highly developed R&D ecosystem, and its innovation in this sector has seen the emergence of a growing list of companies exporting overseas.
How can Northern Ireland’s medical devices companies bridge the gap and begin exporting to China?
Invest Northern Ireland’s Asia Pacific team can provide insights into the Chinese marketplace through market research, market scoping, market entry planning, and identifying and targeting potential customers and distributors.
“With the help of Invest NI, we were able to carry out 25 meetings in one week on a recent visit to China. On top of this, their continued help with translation, cultural nuances, and even marketing and display material is invaluable, and as a result the outcome of any trip is successful and positive"
Dr Jason McKeown, Neurovalens
We provide a presence for Northern Ireland companies at international trade and networking events in the region and we can secure vital meetings and pitches for clients. For example, in May 2021, we represented several Northern Ireland companies at the China International Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF), a medical equipment exhibition that connected international brands with potential clients, including private companies, regulators and government agencies.
At this event we facilitated a webinar where two Northern Ireland companies (TruCorp and Randox Toxicology) pitched their products and services to over 200 leading medical devices companies, investors, and distribution partners in China.
Invest NI’s in-market team in China is also engaging with Life and Health Sciences sector associations, participating in key conferences, and collaborating with Chinese state-owned companies.
We also support leading private companies to further promote Northern Ireland’s sector offering in China.
Upcoming events within the life and health sciences industry in China include:
- A diagnostic focused webinar with CACLP (China Association of Clinical Laboratory Practice Expo) in September 2021;
- Clinical Trial, an industry-focused event for global clinical development leaders in November 2021 and
- A virtual sector visit to China in January 2022
To find out more about these events, China’s Life and Health Sciences sector and the support we can provide to NI companies, visit investni.com, speak to your Client Executive or email beijing@investni.com.
[1] The Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China - hospitals in China have been classified in a 3-tier system that recognizes a hospital's ability to provide medical care, medical education, and conduct medical research. A Public Hospital Tier 3 Class A is the top tier.
Chinese Resource Centre
Explore Belfast
The heart of the Chinese Community in Belfast is the Chinese Resource Centre, which runs a year round programme of events and activities.
The Chinese community in Belfast has a history stretching back over 50 years with a legacy of fine food and a rich cultural contribution to the city.
Today the centre is also home to many other ethnic minorities and their rich tapestry of traditions and languages. The local community has been revitalised by an annual influx of Chinese students. The high point of the calendar is the Chinese New Year celebrations which have become a feature of life in the city.
No visit to Belfast is complete without sampling some of the best Chinese food and one of the many events and activities from Dragon Boat Races to local cultural exchanges with the two main traditions in the city.
Explore the iconic Belfast City Hall and Grounds, with its stunning architecture, museum and amazing history.
Explore Belfast
Make the Chinese Resource Centre a central part of your Belfast experience.
Titantic Centre
Explore Belfast
The Titanic Centre has become a world class tourism destination as it tells the timeless story of the Titanic in a new and exciting way.
The iconic building which houses the Titanic Belfast has become almost as recognisable as the ship itself.
Located beside the Titanic Slipways, the Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices and Hamilton Graving Dock – the very place where Titanic was designed, built and launched, Titanic Belfast tells the story of Titanic from her conception, through her construction and launch, to her maiden voyage and subsequent place in history
Explore the iconic Titanic Centre in the heart of Belfast Maritime Mile as you step back in history.
Explore Belfast
As well as discovering the history and context of the Titanic there are a range of other tourist offerings such as the Sensory Experience embedded in the Titanic Belfast experience.
Titanic Belfast, named the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the prestigious World Travel Awards in 2016, is located beside the Titanic Slipways, the Harland and Wolff Drawing Offices and Hamilton Graving Dock, the very place where Titanic was designed, built and launched in 1912.
Titanic Belfast tells the story of the Titanic, from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch, to its maiden voyage and subsequent place in history.
The self-guided Titanic Experience extends over nine interpretive and interactive galleries, which explore the sights, sounds, smells and stories of RMS Titanic, as well as the city and people who made her.
Belfast City Hall
Explore Belfast
The City Hall has been at the heart of Belfast since it was built. Open the door to the past with a tour.
The home of Belfast City Council, City Hall was designed by the architect Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas and completed in Portland stone in 1906. It symbolised Belfast’s coming age and its newly granted city status.
The full ‘City Hall experience’ begins with the ever popular Official Guided Tour. This allows you an extraordinary glimpse into areas not usually accessible to the general public within the beautiful Baroque Revival building. Ascending the Grand Staircase, the experienced guide will lead your group through a series of rooms including the Irish-oak panelled Council Chamber and Italian and Greek marble clad Rotunda highlighting stunning civic regalia and historic portraits along the way.
Explore the iconic Belfast City Hall and Grounds, with its stunning architecture, museum and amazing history.
Explore Belfast
Make the most of your time in the city with easy to use tourist apps which will bring the experience to the palm of your hand.
Good Relations Week
Good Relations Week 2021 takes place from will run from Monday 20th to Sunday 26th September 2021.
This year we have re-introduced physical events, alongside an expanded virtual offering.
The theme is ‘Brighter Days Ahead’ as we shine a light on the peace building and cultural diversity efforts of young people and the challenges they are facing.
Our programme of inspiring community relations events will celebrate the work of people and communities in creating and sustaining good relations.
Huge thanks to all local groups and organisations who’ve helped us put together a dynamic programme of highly impactful events for you to enjoy
Whatever you do, don’t miss it!
Pictured with Peter Day from the Community Relations Council (front, left) and Clare Kearney (front, right) and Conor Valente (front, centre) from the Belfast Skate Collective, a local group that is providing a voice for the skating community, is local skaters Nicole Smallwood; Adam Patton, Caleb Court, James Ferris, Taylor Allen, Reuben Hughes, James Hannigan, Jake Murray and Matt McCopippin.
It s a Walk in the Park
A new ‘Civic Dollars’ mobile phone app, developed with support from Belfast City Council and the Department of Justice means that people can now earn rewards for the time they spend in their local parks and open spaces.
The Connswater Community Greenway will be the first area to go live in the free pilot scheme, followed by other parks across the city. Funded through the ‘Amazing Spaces, Smart Places’ project, the scheme is part of the council’s Smart Belfast programme, which is exploring how data and innovative technologies can create smart solutions for urban challenges and help to improve city services.
Lord Mayor Councillor Kate Nicholl said: “Exercising outside and connecting with nature really can help our mental wellbeing. So it’s fantastic that, thanks to this pilot scheme, people can now earn Civic Dollars for the time they spend in our parks and open spaces. They can enjoy rewards including Translink DayLink passes and tickets to visitor attractions or support their local community group by donating Civic Dollars to them.
“The Civic Dollars app also provides a promotional platform for local businesses, services and events - and the insights we’ll gather will help us to better understand how people use green spaces, improve park management, reduce vandalism, littering and anti-social behaviour and enhance the visitor experience.”
A number of Belfast-based community groups can benefit from donated Civic Dollars, exchanging them for various services such as business training, professional advice and activity centre sessions.
The ‘Amazing Spaces, Smart Places’ project is jointly funded by Belfast City Council and the Department of Justice via the Department for the Economy’s Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), which enables the public sector to tap into new ideas and technologies created by innovative local businesses. It also gives innovators a great opportunity to trial and test their prototype in a supportive real-world environment as part of their product development.
Justice Minister, Naomi Long said: “Effectively managing public open spaces is a key element in developing a safe community, where we respect the law and each other.
“The Civic Dollars pilot scheme holds the potential to deliver real benefits to local communities by using technology to improve the safe use of our parks and open spaces; something that is so important for both physical and mental health. Congratulations to all involved in this innovative pilot scheme and I look forward to hearing how it has progressed as more people use it in the coming weeks and months.”
Stephen McPeake, CEO of local company Moai Digital Ltd and creator of the Civic Dollars app, added:“It’s been fantastic to have this opportunity to apply a tech based solution to Belfast City Council’s challenge of better managing their parks and open spaces. And it’s wonderful to know that local people, businesses and community groups will all benefit as a result when people download and use the Civic Dollars app. Life these days is about so much more than just money – it’s about improving our communities, and our own health and wellbeing – Civic Dollars provides the perfect solution with a new social currency. It’s a win win all round!”
The CivicDollars app can be downloaded free from the App Store or Google Play Store. The pilot will run until the end of Summer 2021.
For more information about the project, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/amazingspaces
Keeping Belfast Clean
Windows to the World
Tourism Ireland gifts Game of Thrones® stained-glass windows to Belfast
With 70% of the production of Game of Thrones® taking place in Northern Ireland, the award winning series will be a key feature of Northern Ireland's tourism offering for years to come. The amazing scenery and the skills and services which Northern Ireland provided made the show the success it has become. It is fitting then that the windows which depict scenes from the series will have a permanent home in Belfast
Tourism Ireland has gifted its six ‘Glass of Thrones’ stained-glass windows to Maritime Belfast Trust (formerly Titanic Foundation Limited). The windows are now on permanent display in the Titanic Quarter and are part of Belfast’s Maritime Mile.
The beautifully crafted windows were installed around Belfast back in 2019 – to showcase and celebrate Northern Ireland as ‘Game of Thrones® Territory’ to millions of fans of the TV series around the world. The windows – which each depicted a key House from the show – marked a decade of filming and production in Northern Ireland and the installation was timed to coincide with the broadcast of the final season. The campaign – called ‘Glass of Thrones’ – was created by Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI, in partnership with HBO.
As travel from overseas to Northern Ireland begins to restart, the ‘Glass of Thrones’ installation will be an important new attraction for fans of the hit TV series visiting Belfast and Northern Ireland. Tourism Ireland will take every opportunity to promote the ‘Glass of Thrones’ in Belfast’s Maritime Mile, as well as our Game of Thrones® filming locations, in its promotions around the world.
Shane Clarke, Tourism Ireland’s Director of Corporate Services, Policy & Northern Ireland, said: “We are delighted to announce the handover of our ‘Glass of Thrones’ to Maritime Belfast Trust. It is really wonderful that these beautiful pieces of art are now permanently on display in Belfast, as part of the Maritime Mile – enhancing our ‘Game of Thrones’ offering and creating a new attraction for fans to come and visit. As overseas travel to Northern Ireland begins to restart, Tourism Ireland will continue to highlight Northern Ireland around the world, reminding people that Northern Ireland is ‘Game of Thrones® Territory’. Our aim is to spike their curiosity about the landscapes and locations featured in the series and inspire them to come and explore them for themselves.”
Kerrie Sweeney, CEO of Maritime Belfast Trust, said: “The six Glass of Thrones installations have become key features of the Maritime Mile, celebrating the role Titanic Studios played in the filming of Game of Thrones. We are delighted to work with all our partners, Belfast Harbour, Titanic Quarter Limited, Odyssey Trust and Department for Communities, to feature the landmark artworks on their respective sites, linking our key heritage assets together. Over the last year, we have had over 1,000 local people a day admiring the installations and we look forward to welcoming more visitors and local people to the area over the summer months and beyond.”
Julie McLaughlin, Experience Development Officer at Tourism NI, commented: “Game of Thrones has been transformative for tourism in Northern Ireland and our joint campaigns have captured the minds and hearts of fans around the world, showcasing Northern Ireland as a must see destination. The six Glass of Thrones were installed at tourist landmarks across Belfast and have proved a firm hit. The installations, now a permanent feature along Belfast’s Maritime Mile, give visitors another way to explore the Game of Thrones story in Northern Ireland and to delve deeper into its rich heritage.”
Tourism Ireland’s ‘Glass of Thrones’ campaign in 2019 was seen by more than 4 million GoT fans in ten markets – including Great Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. It delivered positive coverage for Northern Ireland worth over £30 million. The campaign was also rolled out by Tourism NI in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Earlier this week, the ‘Glass of Thrones’ campaign won a Bronze Lion award at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the outdoor category. The Cannes Lions awards are highly coveted and generally regarded as the Oscars of the advertising and marketing world.
Shane Clarke, Tourism Ireland’s Director of Corporate Services, Policy & Northern Ireland; Kerrie Sweeney, CEO, Maritime Belfast Trust; and Julie McLaughlin, Experience Development Officer, Tourism NI, at the Stark window in Belfast’s Maritime Mile.