Connecting Computing Researchers with Industry - January 2026

Connecting Research with Industry: Highlights from Our Postdoctoral Employer Engagement Event

Bringing together some of Northern Ireland’s brightest postdoctoral researchers and PhD students from Ulster University and Queens University Belfast with a line‑up of industry leaders. Our recent Employer Engagement Event created space for career conversations, industry insights and networking at a time when innovation and talent development have never been more important.

We were delighted to welcome representatives from a diverse group of leading organisations, including PwC, BT, Visa, B‑Secure, Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre, Centre for Digital Health Technologies. Their participation underscored the growing appetite for deeper engagement between academia and industry, particularly in areas such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, data science, health technologies, and emerging innovation ecosystems.

The event was opened by Dr Ian Cleland – Computer Science Research Director at Ulster University, Ian’s reflection on his work as research director and personal career steps set the scene for the morning.

We started with a lively speed networking session, giving postdoctoral researchers the chance to speak directly with employers in short, focused conversations. This format helped researchers articulate their expertise while gaining real‑world insight into industry needs, recruitment pathways, and emerging skills demands.

A central highlight of the morning was the panel discussion, where industry leaders shared candid reflections on transferable skills and how researchers can position themselves for roles beyond academia.

• The evolving landscape of research‑driven careers

• The skills and mindsets employers value most

• How researchers can position themselves for roles beyond academia

• Opportunities for partnership between universities and industry

The discussion offered a rare, honest look at the challenges and opportunities facing early‑career researchers, while also highlighting the value they bring to innovation‑focused organisations.

Lightning Talks: Showcasing Research Talent

The event concluded with lightening talks, giving former and current postdoctoral researchers a platform to present their work in a concise and engaging format. These rapid‑fire presentations demonstrated the breadth of research expertise across both universities.

For employers, it was a chance to see first‑hand the depth of talent emerging from Northern Ireland’s research community.

The success of this event reflects a growing commitment to strengthening the relationship between academia and industry and help build a more dynamic and collaborative innovation ecosystem for Northern Ireland.