Queen's University had the honour of hosting the the Global Innovation Summit 2024 (GIS 2024) on its campus in association with the GFCC (Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils).

Alongside the business and thought leaders featured in the four day conference, political representatives from across the globe came to Belfast to highlight the economic growth possibilities in Northern Ireland.

"Education is the bedrock of the economy to learn, grow and have aspirations." 

That was one of the key messages delivered by the USA’s special envoy to Northern Ireland Joseph Kennedy III on the final day of (GIS) 2024. 

He was one of the global leaders from business, industry, and academia to speak about the importance of collaboration and how the power of partnership can enhance innovation and progress towards a sustainable future in an era of great technological change.   

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP reflected that by merging innovation with strong leadership, we can together create a sustainable and prosperous future for all, highlighting that competition can drive innovation. He paid tribute to Northern Ireland’s excellence in sectors such as life sciences, cyber and advanced manufacturing, having visited the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) at Queen’s University Belfast last month. 

Joe Kennedy III added to his remarks, saying:  

“I remain a firm advocate and champion to Northern Ireland, as a place to live, to visit, to study, to invest […]. I know how much talent resides in this place.” 

Delegates next heard from First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill, MLA and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, MLA, whose session on ‘Leading Northern Ireland Forward’ saw each reflect on how they together embody the power of partnership in their joint office. Michelle O’Neill reflected that they both have a common goal to “make people’s lives better” through collaboration and that ‘global sustainability must be a priority for governments across the world.”  

Emma Little-Pengelly added that "Citizens want and need to see their governments deliver and that demands a new way of doing business: driving innovation; creative, collaborative working to find the right solutions for the right challenges - implemented by harnessing the power of technological advancement and new ways of working." 

“For me, collaboration is more than a buzzword. It is how good decisions are made, and innovation is mainstreamed. Working together inside and outside of government is key to problem solving. So often we talk about the challenges of our system of government here. [...] But it is also a system that brings in diversity – different voices, different views around a table. [...] That diversity can be our strength.” - Emma Little-Pengelly, MLA, Deputy First Minister 

The afternoon at the Whitla Hall saw Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham deliver a keynote address on Greater Manchester’s transformation as an inclusive and sustainable model for building a city region, in which he stressed that “to be competitive you have to be collaborative” and that “academia is critical in the real-world economy.”   

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Manchester City Council Leader Councillor Bev Craig took to the stage in Queen’s University Belfast’s Great Hall at an event hosted by Belfast Region City Deal, where they shared key learnings from Manchester’s innovation journey. Drawing on themes of innovation, inclusivity, and identity, they showcased how collaboration and partnership have propelled Manchester to be one of the UK’s fastest-growing regions – creating tangible benefits and new opportunities for its communities. 

Delegates also heard from Queen’s University Chancellor Hillary Clinton, who delivered closing remarks congratulating Queen’s University Belfast on hosting such a successful conference:  

“I want to recognise the work that this conference represents, and more than that for establishing this innovation theme.”  

With delegates hearing from a broad range of speakers, it was an enlightening experience for all in the audience.