QUEEN’S University has appointed business consultant David Quinn as new executive director for its £58 million Global Innovation Institute (GII), an expansion of the Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology (ECIT).
A former consulting partner in PwC in Northern Ireland, the role will see him lead the Belfast Region City Deal-funded project, which aims to transform Northern Ireland’s digital economy by substantially increasing both the volume and range of digital innovation taking place within the region.
He takes up his new role as Dr Godfrey Gaston, currently executive director of ECIT, retires this summer after 18 years’ service at Queen’s.
Scheduled to open in 2025, the GII will house more than 550 experts at its Titanic Quarter site, including researchers already based at ECIT, as well as new posts and others who will be co-locating from a wide range of companies and external partners.
The team of researchers will build on ECIT’s core expertise across cyber security, advanced wireless technologies, data science and analytics. Within a multi-disciplinary environment, experts from a range of sectors will be developing research in areas including health data, agri-food and fintech.
Mr Quinn said: “The City Deal investment in GII represents a once in a generation opportunity to place a research institute with sufficient scale and critical mass to compete globally at the heart of Belfast’s emerging Innovation District, in line with the Department of Economy’s 10X Vision.
“I feel privileged to undertake the role as executive director and to contribute to a very vibrant and collaborative innovation ecosystem that has emerged so strongly here in recent years.
“GII will be an accelerant for high value jobs and growth for years to come while bringing solutions for agriculture and environment, healthier lives and our healthcare system.
“I’m committed to working towards improvements in the economic and social circumstances of all the people of Northern Ireland in collaboration with industry and government partners. A more prosperous, inclusive and healthier place is simply a better outcome for everyone.”
