Northern Ireland is at a turning point. The global demand for innovation in cyber security, artificial intelligence, and wireless communications has never been greater. Businesses everywhere are searching for practical, scalable solutions to complex problems. Right here in Belfast, a bold new initiative is positioning Northern Ireland as a leader in this transformation.
That initiative is Momentum One Zero — a £70 million investment designed to create a world-class hub where businesses, researchers, and entrepreneurs can harness deep-tech innovation to grow faster, smarter, and more securely.
WHO WE ARE
Momentum One Zero is a business-led innovation centre, within Queen’s UniversityBelfast and part of the Belfast Region City Deal. We bring together the best of academia, engineering, and enterprise to deliver innovative solutions that matter to our partners.
At the heart of our approach is convergence. Trusted Data, Cybersecurity, AI, and Wireless technologies intersect in ways that unlock new possibilities across every sector, from healthcare and agri-food to fintech, energy, and advanced technologies.
Momentum One Zero exists to make this convergence work for businesses. We lower barriers, reduce risks, and provide access to expertise, facilities, and funding that can helporganisationsdevelop, test, and scale products or solutions that deliver business value
WHAT WE DO
We’ve designed our offering around four key pillars — each one built to deliver business value while strengthening Northern Ireland’s position on the global stage.
DEEP-TECH SERVICES & COLLABORATION
We translate cutting-edge research into real products and services. From prototyping and system integration to collaborative R&D projects, our professional engineering team works side by side with businesses to tackle complex challenges, drawing on multidisciplinary academic expertise.
COMPUTE & INFRASTRUCTURE POWER
We provide state-of-the-art labs and secure, high-performance computing environments to support advanced AI, data science, and wireless research. For companies, that means the confidence to design, test, and scale solutions at speed.
TALENT & SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE
Innovation needs people. We support a pipeline of graduates, PhDs, and professionals who are industry-ready, coming through world class courses in Queen’s. Through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and hands-on project experience, we’re growing the skills base NI needs to compete globally.
INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM
Momentum One Zero brings everything together under one roof. Industry partners can co-locate with engineers, academics, and industry peers to benefit from daily collaboration and knowledge sharing. This ecosystem model reduces silos and accelerates progress.
WHY THIS MATTERS FOR NI
Northern Ireland already punches above its weight in cybersecurity, fintech, and software development. With the creation of Momentum One Zero, the region has an opportunity to position itself as a testbed for global innovation.By 2040, the UK’s AI and data markets are projected to exceed £50 billion. Momentum One Zero will help ensure Northern Ireland is ready to capture a share of that growth, — by embedding deep-tech innovation into businesses, generating new jobs, and attracting foreign direct investment.
Our mission is simple: to make innovation accessible, and impactful. Whether you are a startup founder, a scaling SME, or an established multinational, Momentum One Zero is designed to help you move faster and with greater confidence.
REAL-WORLD IMPACT: SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES
Momentum One Zero is not about innovation for its own sake — it’s about outcomes. We exist to grow Northern Ireland businesses, and here are some of the areas where our capabilities are already making an impact:
Digital Health – Using AI and secure data systems to improve diagnostics, care delivery, and patient outcomes.
Agri-Food – Leveraging wireless technologies and data analytics to create smarter, more sustainable food systems.
Fintech – Strengthening cyber resilience and building AI-driven financial solutions.
Sustainability & Net Zero – Applying connected technologies to energy efficiency, smart cities, and climate solutions.
Each of these sectors represents not just a challenge, but an opportunity — and Momentum One Zero is here to ensure Northern Ireland businesses are ready to lead.
THE HUMAN ELEMENT
Technology alone doesn’t change the world — people do. That’s why Momentum One Zero is investing heavily in skills development.
Our multi-disciplinary delivery teams are a powerhouse in applied deep tech innovation:
Our engineering team is growing rapidly, dedicated to bridging academic research with business application — and focused solely on tackling the challenges companies bring to us.
Alongside them, more than 60 leading academics in Cyber, AI, and Wireless are working with industry partners on frontier research.
And beyond that, more than 40 domain experts in health, agri-food, fintech, sustainability and advanced technologies.
For students and early-career professionals, Momentum One Zero offers the chance to work on live industry projects, gaining experience that’s directly relevant to employers. For companies, it means access to a pipeline of talent that’s both skilled and innovation ready.
WHY PARTNER WITH US
Working with Momentum One Zero means more than just access to facilities — we are connecting businesses directly with brilliant minds and bright ideas - where you will be part of a thriving innovation ecosystem where collaboration drives results.
We provide clarity on engagement models and intellectual property from the start. We connect businesses with funding opportunities for large-scale innovation projects.
We create spaces where entrepreneurs, researchers, and partner organizations can work side by side.
We deliver pathways for commercialisation, ensuring research turns into revenue.Or, as our Industry Advisory Board Chair Paul Murnaghan put it:“Momentum One Zero represents a unique opportunity to unlock the potential of Northern Ireland as a testbed for innovation. We have a responsibility to ensure that our priorities reflect the real needs of the region and generate meaningful results.”
CONCLUSION: BUILDING MOMENTUM TOGETHER
Momentum One Zero is more than a project and more than a university initiative. It’s a movement for Northern Ireland’s future — a way to harness secure connected intelligence, talent, and infrastructure to drive economic growth and social impact.
We already have a thriving physical home where businesses, researchers, and innovators are working side by side. And this is just the beginning. Construction starts this year on a larger, purpose-built facility that will provide world-class labs, collaborative zones, and specialist environments designed to take projects from concept to scale.
This expanded space will become the anchor point for Northern Ireland’s innovation ecosystem — a place where ideas move faster, partnerships run deeper, and impact is felt far beyond our region.
We believe that by working together, Northern Ireland can not only keep pace with global change — but set the pace.
AN OPEN INVITATION TO BUSINESSES
While Momentum One Zero is here for Northern Ireland, our outlook is global. We are already working with ambitious, forward-looking businesses, ready to collaborate on solutions that can scale today and continue to scale into the future.
If you’re a company asking, “How can we apply deep tech innovation to be faster, safer, and smarter?” — we’d love to hear from you.
Sync NI's Autumn 2025 magazine explores how Northern Ireland is moving AI from pilot to production
This issue features exclusive insights from industry leaders on real-world AI implementation, responsible adoption, enterprise infrastructure, and how data-driven innovation is transforming businesses across the region.
Read the Big Data Special Edition free online →
Stay connected with NI's tech community:
Subscribe to our newsletter – Get the latest tech news, job opportunities, and events delivered to your inbox
Visit Sync NI – Your daily source for Northern Ireland technology news
