Supporting Innovation 2024-11-27
2024-11-27
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question comes after the passing of Ken Reid, a former UTV political editor closely associated with Northern Ireland oral questions.
What steps are being taken to help support innovation in Northern Ireland?
The Government is working with universities and businesses through the business innovation grant and industrial strategy. The launch of Invest NI's business innovation grant, receiving £440,000 of UK Government funding, complements these efforts.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify concrete steps beyond mentioning existing initiatives without details.
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The constituency has two universities that do excellent work with counterparts in Northern Ireland.
How is the Government working with universities to support innovation in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland's universities are key partners through the UK Government's new deal for Northern Ireland, which includes £11 million of funding to Queen's University Belfast's centre for secure information technologies to deliver a cyber-AI hub. This investment is unlocking additional private sector investment.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Free trade across the UK single market is vital for supporting innovation in Northern Ireland.
What steps are being taken to streamline Northern Ireland's ability to trade with all corners of the UK?
The business innovation grant offers up to £20,000 grants to SMEs enabling them to come into the market, supporting innovation across the whole country.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific steps for streamlining trade.
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
Northern Ireland hosts major innovative companies such as Wrightbus, Spirit AeroSystems, and Harland & Wolff.
Can the UK Government look again at the future of these businesses to ensure investments and jobs stay in Northern Ireland?
The Department for Business and Trade remains in contact with Spirit, Airbus, Boeing, and other potential buyers. They continue to provide over £13 million of support for Short Brothers' research and development activity.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q5
Direct Answer
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Context
Northern Ireland is at the forefront for fibre broadband due to a confidence and supply deal with the previous Government.
What is being done to promote this golden innovative opportunity nationally?
The UK Government are working with businesses, trade unions, local and devolved leaders, experts and international partners to develop the industrial strategy. Eight growth-driving sectors have been identified, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries, creative industries, among others.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The Irish Government published a national semiconductor strategy.
Has the Minister studied this strategy? How will Northern Ireland exploit it?
I have not yet looked at it, but I will go away and study it as it sounds like a very important aspect of our joint working. We have many international business opportunities to work with counterparts in the Republic of Ireland.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details on studying or exploiting the strategy.
Will Go Away And Study It
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
Ken Reid's family is a constituent, and he praised Wrightbus in his constituency.
How far have the Government invested in advancing hydrogen technology at Wrightbus?
Northern Ireland is leading the way with Wrightbus producing 1,000 low-carbon buses, securing 500 jobs in its factory, and creating 1,500 additional jobs across the UK supply chain through their transition to net zero.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific investment details for hydrogen technology.
Response accuracy