Lyons announces appointment of co-chair to US-Ireland R&D Partnership Steering Group

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA today announced the appointment of Mr Noel Lavery as the new Northern Ireland co-chair to the US-Ireland R&D Partnership Steering Group.

Noel Lavery, co-chair to US-Ireland R&D Partnership Steering Group

The Partnership, which supports leading edge, fully collaborative, internationally peer reviewed research between universities in the United States, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, focuses on prioritised thematic areas, including sensors, nanotechnology, telecommunications, energy and sustainability, cybersecurity, health and agriculture.

Welcoming the appointment the Minister said:

“I, and my Ministerial colleagues from the other NI sponsoring Departments, Minister Robin Swann at the Department of Health and Minister Edwin Poots at the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, are pleased that Noel Lavery has accepted this appointment as Northern Ireland co-chair of the US-Ireland R&D Partnership Steering Group.

“Noel brings a wealth of relevant personal experience to the position having overseen international relations, including the work of the NI Executive’s Washington Office, during his time in the Executive Office. I firmly believe Noel’s depth of knowledge of the Northern Ireland economy and his strategic vision, as evidenced in particular during his time as Permanent Secretary of DARD / DAERA, and most recently as Permanent Secretary of this Department, will serve him well in his new role over the next three years.”

The Minister continued:

“We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing co-chair, Dr Rosemary Hamilton, for her wholehearted commitment to the Partnership and vision which has directly contributed to it becoming the highly successful and valued international R&D initiative it is today.

Notes to editors: 

1. A pen picture is available on the Department’s website.

2. The US-Ireland R&D Partnership, established in 2006 and based on the principles of the Good Friday Agreement, involves the governments of the United States of America, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland working together to advance scientific progress through the “gold standard” international peer review of the US National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Food & Agriculture. The Steering Group, which includes representatives of all three jurisdictions, guides the collaborative efforts under the Partnership and reflects a mutually cooperative ethos through the inclusion of a co-chair from each of the three jurisdictions.

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