Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland

The Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI) was established to strengthen the Life & Health Sciences ecosystem by maintaining a clear vision and strategic direction, and to act as a single voice for the sector with a focus on promoting Life and Health sciences capabilities in Northern Ireland.

We aim to

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Act as a voice

To act as a voice for the life and health sciences sector enabling the sector to collectively promote and strategically position itself nationally and internationally.

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Drive collaboration

To drive collaboration and connectivity across business, academia and health organisations in the life and health sciences sector.

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Provide easy access

To provide a front door to Northern Ireland’s life and health sciences sector and offers simple access to the resources and expertise of the region.

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Statistics

1.8 jobsFor every one job created, in the Life Sciences sector 1.8 jobs are created in NI.

3 JobsFor every one job created in the Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals sector, 3 jobs are created in NI.

£530Mof gross value added directly supported by the Life Sciences sector.

Latest news

07 Feb 2023

Medical Innovation and Technology Summit first for Northern Ireland

The world of medical technology looks confidently towards Northern Ireland this April when the inaugural Medical Innovation and Technology Summit (MITS) will take place in Belfast.
24 Jan 2023

New cross-border health initiative to create an all-island healthcare SME network to tackle tech implementation and adoption in hospital healthcare

Supported by InterTradeIreland’s Synergy initiative, the All-Island MedTech SMEs (AIMS) is being delivered by Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI) and the Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI).
18 Jan 2023

HIRANI Westminster Visit

HIRANI attended the launch event in Westminster for two new strategic reports from CPI, ABHI and Cambridge Design Partnership arising from feedback from GB and NI HealthTech SMEs who were successful in obtaining funding with the Innovate UK Health Technology Regulatory and Innovation Programme (HealthTrip) Programme.

Company of the month

Belfast company TriMedika is an innovative medical technology company that provides the most accurate clinical devices for hospitals worldwide.

Find out about TriMedika
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Statistics

£1.3billionGVA by health and life sciences companies

17Research and Innovation Institutes

190,000roles in the wider health and life sciences sector

HIRANI: The Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland

Established to strengthen the Life & Health Sciences ecosystem by maintaining a clear vision and strategic direction, and to act as a single voice for the sector with a focus on promoting Life and Health sciences capabilities in Northern Ireland.

Find out about HIRA-NI

  • £1.1 billion turnover by NI health and life sciences companies in 2021
  • 300 life and health sciences companies
  • 4,400 health and life sciences graduates
  • 1,000 researchers working in Centres of Excellence
  • Two world class Universities
  • Five NHS Trusts employing 80,000 people
  • 1.44% people took part in covid trials – highest in the UK
  • Three clinical research facilities
  • Thriving engineering, tech and digital support sectors
  • Well-connected infrastructure
  • Dual access to UK and EU markets
  • NI was first of five connected places healthy ageing test beds in the UK
  • Integrated Health System
  • All patients have Electronic Care Records
  • 18,000 high quality jobs in health and life sciences

    • Thank you to our Funders

    ulster university logo
    queens university logo
    invest ni logo
    department of health logo
    department of economy logo
    northern health and social care