We must redouble its efforts to influence our children, their parents and their schools and colleges to prepare for work in the 21st Century.
When I came home to build the Science Park at the beginning of the Millennium, having spent 30 years in Science and Applied Science in England, many who knew me, thought I had made a big mistake since “science was not part of our economy”.
At the time, I thought this was sadly ironic for the land that had spawned several of the greatest physicists, engineers and mathematicians that had ever lived, the more especially since some had been direct mentors and advisors to the most disruptive changes ever, the Industrial Revolution and the structure of DNA! Others had participated directly with invention (chocolate, pneumatic tyres, modern tractor etc.) and discovery (quantum theory, charged particle precession, arctic exploration, medicine etc). One (William Thompson aka Lord Kelvin) was the arch polymath and had achieved international greatness in both having revolutionised the science of heat and the world’s intercontinental communication.
Anyway, I’m glad to say that, today, few doubt the role of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics to our economy but, still, the message needs to go wider and deeper and especially into our young folk, their parents and teachers.
Taking the list of technology markets from Matrix, Minister Foster’s Science Industry panel, you can see growth in all five, ICT, Advanced Manufacturing, Agri-food, Bioscience, Energy and Health. I commend our various reports and especially our latest on Intellectual Capital for, of the various resources needed by the economy, it is now the pressure point for many firms.
I haven’t the time even to list all our industrial and commercial innovators but I never fail to be surprised by their global reach and diversity. Let me illustrate:
• Wrightbus and Bombardier vehicles are among the greenest in the world and may well claim a larger share of the already growing world market as a result. They are growing as are their local sub-contractors.
• Cornerstone Automation in Derry is designing robots to serve the growing internet sales market and the increasing health market connecting Pharma to patient. Meanwhile working with UU and our hospitals, Heartsine, Intellisens and others are building state-of-the-art medical electronic systems for global sale. Randox has taken genomics to a new level with personally tailored health plans adding to their other business strands.
• In CITI, one fifth of all the global foreign exchange transactions, flow through the optical fibres in Belfast and Derry, with a thousand computer scientists and other professionals earning their living managing the processes.
• Wind energy is big business to a mutated Harland and Wolff, and now, Dong, but the oil industry world-wide is benefiting from Queens University’s ionic liquid technology and green chemistry.
The entire knowledge industry is in growth and we need urgently to build the agile, skilled workforce to take advantage of the opportunities, for all our sakes.
[This article is based on my introduction to “STEM is COOL”, an event to highlight the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, involving over 60 organisations, was held on 29th Jan in Parliament Buildings. It was orchestrated by the Assembly’s Education; Employment and Learning; Enterprise, Trade and Investment; and Culture, Arts and Leisure Committees working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Science Park to look at STEM’s critical importance to the Northern Ireland economy and emphasise the many exciting and varied careers available.]
