Northern Ireland Science Park
Encyclopedia
Northern Ireland Science Park Foundation Limited (or NISP) was established in March 1999 to create a self sustaining, internationally recognised, knowledge-based science park
in Northern Ireland
offering a commercial and research driven centre for knowledge-based industries. The park is located in the Titanic Quarter
, Queen's Island, Belfast
and hosts a range of international and local technology related companies. It currently has six buildings in operation offering 210000 square feet (19,509.6 m²) of workspace, with 1,500 people in 40 companies working at the Science Park. The Chief Executive is Dr Norman Apsley and 2008 marked the first year of commercial independence from Government.
, which designated funding for such a park in Northern Ireland. The not-for-profit NISP Foundation was founded in 1999 by the University of Ulster
, Queen's University Belfast and members of the business community. Most initial funding came from UK government economic initiatives, with the intention that the park would become self-sustaining. It was planned that the 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) Queen's Island site would eventually be occupied by twelve buildings, including an Innovation Centre for small tech firms and start-ups, the Queen's University Institute for Electronics, Communications and Information Technologies, as well as larger companies and light manufacturing firms.
were entering into strategic research collaboration with Intel
at the site. At the same time, BroadSoft, which opened its European headquarters in the Science Park in 2006 and has since more than doubled its space requirement, announced further expansion to eventually bring total employment there to 23.
Science park
A research park, science park, or science and technology park is an area with a collection of buildings dedicated to scientific research on a business footing. There are many approximate synonyms for "science park", including research park, technology park, technopolis and biomedical park...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
offering a commercial and research driven centre for knowledge-based industries. The park is located in the Titanic Quarter
Titanic Quarter, Belfast
The Titanic Quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland is a waterfront regeneration project, including apartments, a riverside entertainment district, and a major Titanic-themed attraction under development on reclaimed land in Belfast Harbour, known until recently as Queen's Island...
, Queen's Island, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and hosts a range of international and local technology related companies. It currently has six buildings in operation offering 210000 square feet (19,509.6 m²) of workspace, with 1,500 people in 40 companies working at the Science Park. The Chief Executive is Dr Norman Apsley and 2008 marked the first year of commercial independence from Government.
History
The Science Park was initially conceived under the 1998 Good Friday AgreementBelfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
, which designated funding for such a park in Northern Ireland. The not-for-profit NISP Foundation was founded in 1999 by the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
, Queen's University Belfast and members of the business community. Most initial funding came from UK government economic initiatives, with the intention that the park would become self-sustaining. It was planned that the 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) Queen's Island site would eventually be occupied by twelve buildings, including an Innovation Centre for small tech firms and start-ups, the Queen's University Institute for Electronics, Communications and Information Technologies, as well as larger companies and light manufacturing firms.
Companies in the Science Park
In November 2009 it was announced that software developers SAPSAP AG
SAP AG is a German software corporation that makes enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. Headquartered in Walldorf, Baden-Württemberg, with regional offices around the world, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software...
were entering into strategic research collaboration with Intel
Intel Corporation
Intel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States and the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, based on revenue. It is the inventor of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most...
at the site. At the same time, BroadSoft, which opened its European headquarters in the Science Park in 2006 and has since more than doubled its space requirement, announced further expansion to eventually bring total employment there to 23.