Lord Mayor Praises Job Creation Success At NI Science Park

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Alderman Gavin Robinson, has described the success of Northern Ireland Science Park in the city's Titanic Quarter as outstanding.

"NISP is a great example of the ability of Northern Ireland to move with the times and continue to show world leadership in new high tech industries," he said.

"Having attracted more than 100 companies in high technology sectors, currently employing 2000 people and generating an estimated £80m a year in salaries, this is a tremendous success story for Belfast and the whole of Northern Ireland," the Lord Mayor commented.

Speaking at a fact finding visit today at the Science Park where he met several companies, the Lord Mayor compared the achievements of the Science Park and its management team to a time when its close neighbour, the shipyard, led the world.

"The future of Belfast as our capital city depends on our ability to teach our young people to start innovation-led companies and create products with originality and value-added quality that are globally in demand," he said. "To do that we need to foster an economic environment in which any individual with talent and ambition can succeed.

"At Belfast City Council we envisage our entrepreneurial ecosystem being the envy of Europe. We share a vision with the NI Science Park to see the phrase 'Innovated in Northern Ireland' achieve global recognition."

The visit of the Lord Mayor was the first in a number of major events for politicians and influential business leaders which will mark 2013 as a significant year for the Science Park driving more business investment, more jobs and even greater innovation in Belfast.

(CD)