Leading Canadian politician Doug Horner today visited the University's nanotechnology facility at Jordanstown  to gain insight into the world leading research conducted there.

The visit came as part of a four-day fact finding visit to Northern Ireland by Mr Horner, who is Deputy Premier of Alberta, Minister for Advanced Education and Minister Liaison to the Canadian Forces.

During his visit to the Jordanstown campus, he met Professor James McLaughlin, Director of the Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials Research Institute and Director of Innovation Tim Brundle for a breakfast briefing on the University’s work.

Mr Brundle said: “We’re very excited by the opportunities partnership with Alberta can offer. There are a lot of similarities between the economic focus of Alberta and the  interests of Northern Ireland and we hope to  move forward quickly to build on these opportunities.”

Professor McLaughlin  concurred: “The University already has links with several leading Canadian universities , especially in nanotechnology. Our aim is to try to develop funded links between Ulster and colleagues in Canada, focusing on the way that healthcare sensor technology innovation  can be underpinned and enabled by increased nanotechnology research.

“Connected health is a growing focus in Canada as well as here in Northern Ireland: they also have  an interest in clean technology  – also a  focus here at Ulster. “

With so many points of convergence in research, technology and innovation between Ulster and Alberta both McLaughlin and Brundle are optimistic that the increasing links and goodwill demonstrated by the Deputy Premier’s visit will bear fruit in the near future.