Professor Victor Gault, Ulster University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean for the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, is representing Ulster University as part of the new initiative aimed at improving health outcomes and supporting economic growth across Northern Ireland.
The AH&EP is a joint initiative led by the Department of Health and the Department for the Economy. It brings together health and social care, universities, industry and communities to develop, test and scale innovations that improve people's health while supporting economic growth and investment.
The partnership will help Northern Ireland translate its strengths in health and life sciences research and clinical expertise into real-world impact.
The AH&EP will identify priority health challenges, support the development and testing of innovations, and accelerate the adoption of proven solutions across health and social care. This will create a more joined-up pathway from discovery to implementation and scale.
The launch comes as Northern Ireland seeks to strengthen its position as a leading location for health and life sciences, building on growing interest from investors and life sciences companies.
Professor Victor Gault, Ulster University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean for the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, said:
“Ulster University is proud to be part of this partnership at a time when Northern Ireland’s health and social care system faces significant challenges, and there is an urgent need to find new ways of improving outcomes. By bringing together our collective research expertise, innovation and strong partnerships across healthcare, government and industry, we can help turn knowledge and discovery into practical solutions that make a real difference to people’s lives, while also supporting a thriving health and life sciences sector and the wider Northern Ireland economy.”
Speaking at the launch, Mike Farrar, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health said:
"Northern Ireland faces significant health challenges, from increasing demand for services to the growing burden of long-term conditions. At the same time, we have exceptional assets: a single integrated health and social care system, internationally recognised research expertise, innovative businesses and committed partners across the public, private and voluntary sectors. The AH&EP brings these strengths together behind a shared ambition. Our goal is simple: to improve health outcomes for our population by making it easier to develop, test, adopt and scale innovation. If we get this right, patients will benefit from better care, staff will have access to more effective solutions, and Northern Ireland will be recognised internationally as a place where innovation can thrive and deliver real impact."
Ian Snowden, Permanent Secretary at the Department for the Economy, said:
"The life and health sciences sector represents one of Northern Ireland's greatest economic opportunities. We have world-class universities, innovative companies, outstanding research capability and a strong track record of collaboration. Through this new partnership we want to strengthen the connection between health improvement and economic growth. By creating an environment where innovation can be developed, evaluated and adopted more effectively, we can attract investment, support the growth of indigenous businesses, create high-value jobs and enhance Northern Ireland's international reputation as a centre for health innovation. This partnership is about turning our strengths into tangible benefits for citizens, patients, businesses and communities."
The partnership will initially focus on a small number of priority areas with potential to improve health outcomes, strengthen services and demonstrate measurable impact, providing a foundation for wider adoption and growth.
The AH&EP was formally launched at NICON 2026, Northern Ireland's leading conference for health and social care leaders.
