Celebrating four decades of trailblazing innovation, QUBIS has emerged as a cornerstone of Northern Ireland's entrepreneurial landscape. Built on the strong foundation of research excellence at Queen’s University, it has transformed cutting-edge academic research into over 100 dynamic spinouts, each redefining the region's business ecosystem and reinforcing its global reputation as a hub of entrepreneurial excellence.
Bridging Academia and Industry
Founded in 1984, QUBIS was founded with the aim of bridging the gap between the academic research of Queen’s University and the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, by creating impact through spin outs. As Edward Cartin, former CEO of QUBIS, noted, "A spin-out is a form of publication. It’s taking science out from under the bushel and showing it to the world at large." This powerful collaboration has enabled researchers to push the boundaries of innovation, translating theoretical breakthroughs into practical, market-ready solutions that have resonated globally.
Over the years, the relationship between QUBIS and Queen’s University has evolved dramatically. What began as an experimental endeavour has now grown into an embedded, mutually beneficial partnership. As Cartin explained, "It built the acceptance of university spin-outs as part of the economic ecology of the country, setting off a chain of spin-outs, not just from the university but from the spin-outs themselves."
Current CEO of QUBIS, Brian McCaul, emphasises the vital role of QUBIS in addressing the region’s economic challenges: “Northern Ireland is a challenged economy—a low startup economy and a low equity market economy. QUBIS plays into all of those. Our core business is to create deep tech startups, and we’ve become the third most active early-stage investor in Northern Ireland, making a critical impact on the local economy.”
A Legacy of Disruptive Innovation
Over the past four decades, QUBIS has been at the forefront of driving technological change in Northern Ireland and on a larger global stage. Early successes laid the foundation for a wave of ventures that have not only elevated Northern Ireland’s status on the global tech map but have also spearheaded innovations across industries including IT, healthcare technology, and advanced engineering. Key impacts include:
As McCaul points out, “We ranked number one, above Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial, in the Octopus Ventures rankings for efficiency in turning IP into value. It was a testament to how lean and effective QUBIS has been at maximising the potential of Queen’s University’s research.”
Spinout Spotlight
QUBIS owes its success to its spin-outs, with Bia Analytical standing as a prime example.
Bia Analytical is a world-leading food authentication company which originated from innovative research carried out at the Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) at Queen’s University Belfast. With food authentication testing traditionally taking up to 14 days, Bia Analytical have developed cutting-edge food integrity and specification screening which can provide instant results at any point in the supply chain via a portable device, or within three days in their ISO 17025-accredited lab. Bia Analytical utilises advanced spectroscopy, chemometric modelling, AI, and complex data science to ensure rapid, reliable, and accurate results.
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Bia Analytical’s origins trace back to the 2013 horsemeat scandal, which highlighted critical vulnerabilities in food authentication. IGFS had already been pioneering spectroscopy-based food safety research when Professor Chris Elliott OBE, co-founder and President of Bia Analytical, was appointed to lead the UK Government Review. As industry demand for reliable testing surged, it became clear that a dedicated commercial entity was needed to provide rapid, scalable solutions which led to the creation of Bia Analytical as a spinout company.
Despite launching in early 2020 amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bia Analytical achieved significant milestones. In its first year, the company developed chemometric models for a core offering of 22 herbs, spices and wheat flour, expanded authenticity testing services, and maintained a rapid three-day turnaround time to empower businesses with critical insights.
As climate change, crop failures, deforestation, and rising costs threaten global food security, Bia Analytical continues to enhance its models for high-risk commodities such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, soybeans, and edible oils. By leveraging cloud technology, the company is improving access to its models, empowering retailers and manufacturers to maintain supply chain integrity, even in complex and layered supply chains.
With ISO 17025 accreditation for the laboratory-based methods, an expanding suite of portable authentication tests and a cloud-based software platform which grants food-testing labs access to its scientific models for instant sample analysis, Bia Analytical remains at the forefront of food quality and integrity.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Tech Innovation.
The 40-year journey of QUBIS, deeply interwoven with the academic prowess of Queen’s University, is a compelling narrative of innovation, resilience, and transformative success. As the tech community looks to the future, this partnership stands as a beacon of what can be achieved when research excellence meets entrepreneurial drive. "I believe QUBIS can continue to be a driving force in creating world-class companies, helping Northern Ireland compete globally," says McCaul. "With the right collaborations, innovation, and talent, the next 40 years could be even more exciting than the last."
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