BT has announced a new Future Technology Research and Innovation (FTRI) programme at the BT Ireland Innovation Centre (BTIC) in Belfast, which is expected to generate £45 million of investment in Northern Ireland over the next five years.

The programme is a partnership with Ulster University and receives support from Invest NI, which has offered £5.9m in financial assistance through its Grant for R&D programme. The initiative was launched by BT Group Chief Executive Allison Kirkby.

The FTRI programme will focus on developing industrial research workstreams and engineering projects across two key areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Autonomous Internet of Things (IoT). It is expected to create 60 new jobs, many of which will be open to recent graduates and post-graduates.

The programme will centre on advancing innovation in five key areas:

• AI, Data Science, and Data Analytics

• Cybersecurity

• IoT

• Next Generation Networks It will have a particular focus on developing AI services for businesses, predictive data analytics, and research into IoT and cyber solutions that ensure privacy, security, and trust across digital networks.

Paul Murnaghan, Northern Ireland Director at BT, highlighted the region's strong ecosystem: "Northern Ireland’s talent and connected ecosystem make it the ideal place to shape the next generation of technology, and we’re proud to continue this journey with Ulster University and support from Invest NI."

BT will also develop the BTIIC Academy to support up-skilling, including an MSc in Artificial Intelligence alongside project-based learning and accredited modules. Professor Paul Bartholomew, Vice-Chancellor at Ulster University, stated that the partnership will expand research capacity, recruit new specialist staff, and create opportunities for graduates to work at the forefront of technological development.

Invest NI Chief Executive Kieran Donoghue welcomed the investment, calling it an "affirmation of confidence in Northern Ireland" that will drive forward the next generation of BT technology development in IoT systems, healthcare, and cyber security.