NIRPN October 2025 Event
International Partnerships – Global Reach of NI Research
On 23 October, the Northern Ireland Research Professionals Network (NIRPN) brought together organisations from across the region’s R&I ecosystem in Belfast for its latest event, International Partnerships – Global Reach of NI Research. Hosted in the Assembly Buildings Conference Centre, the event explored how Northern Ireland’s research professionals can support and enable international collaboration and contribute to the development of long-term, equitable partnerships.
The session was held in conjunction with Cross-Cultural Connections: A region-based approach to sharing research management best practices for long-term international collaboration - a British Academy funded project led by Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, and four South African partners: Rhodes University, Nelson Mandela University, Walter Sisulu University, and the University of Fort Hare. Commencing in March 2025, the project supports 30 research management and administration (RMA) professionals across the six institutions to share best practice, address common challenges, and co-develop resources to sustain international collaboration.
Understanding the UK’s Global Research Agenda
Dajana Dzanovic, Head of Global Research and Innovation Policy at Universities UK International (UUKi), provided an overview of the UK’s evolving international research landscape. She outlined UUKi’s role in representing the collective voice of UK universities to government and funding bodies and highlighted the importance of partnership in shaping the UK’s research agenda.
Reflecting on the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, she noted that while fiscal pressures and shifting geopolitical priorities have affected funding, international collaboration remains central to the UK’s research ambitions. She also pointed to renewed opportunities with India under the India–UK Vision 2035 framework and strengthened engagement with the EU through Horizon Europe. Maintaining visibility and proactive engagement, she said, will be key to sustaining the UK’s reputation as a strong and reliable partner.
The Global Reach of Northern Ireland Research
Ann Campbell, Director of Research Impact and Comparative Analytics at Digital Science, presented an evidence-based view of Northern Ireland’s growing international research footprint. Drawing on Dimensions and Altmetric data, she noted that Northern Ireland’s research output has increased by 7.67% since 2020 - outpacing growth in Europe and North America. Biomedical and clinical sciences remain areas of strength, with engineering and information and computer sciences showing sustained growth.
She emphasised Northern Ireland’s strong alignment with the UK’s industrial and innovation priorities, noting that local institutions are not only participating in global research but increasingly leading it. Analysis of collaboration networks and citation patterns shows Northern Ireland consistently punching above its weight, with strategically significant partnerships in high-output research areas such as India, China, South Africa, the USA and Canada.
Panel Discussion: Opportunities and Challenges in International Collaboration
The panel brought together Professor Dina Zoe Belluigi (Queen’s University Belfast), Professor Alistair McIlhagger (Ulster University), Ann Campbell (Digital Science), and Dr Dajana Dzanovic (UUKi) to discuss the benefits, challenges, and practicalities of developing sustainable international partnerships.
Panellists highlighted opportunities such as advancing knowledge, enlarging networks, diversifying funding, and building relationships that attract international students and strengthen global reputation. Collaboration, they agreed, also helps Northern Ireland address complex global challenges and access new markets.
Key challenges included commercial sensitivities, financial risk, and the time and effort required to build and maintain trust and efficacy in partnerships. Institutional barriers, social and cultural inequalities, geopolitics, and compliance or security pressures were also cited. Panellists noted that transparency, openness, and early communication can help mitigate these issues, supported and managed by strong research manager and administrator involvement.
Throughout the discussion, speakers underscored the critical role of research managers and administrators in making institutional processes clearer, offering consistent guidance, and fostering understanding between partners - actions that are essential to the success and sustainability of global research collaboration.
Roundtable Discussions: Sharing Practice and Shaping Support
The event concluded with interactive roundtable discussions, where participants shared experiences and ideas on how research management professionals can be better supported in facilitating international collaboration.
Insights from these discussions will inform the Cross-Cultural Connections project, with outcomes to be shared across the NIRPN network once available.
Continuing the Conversation
The event closed with a shared recognition of the vital role research managers and administrators play in sustaining international partnerships and a collective commitment to strengthening Northern Ireland’s global research connections.