The Advanced Research & Engineering Centre (ARC) was a £9.8 million Invest NI-funded research partnership between Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University and PwC UK (2021 - 2026). Established to bridge cutting-edge academic research with real-world industry challenges, ARC delivered applied innovation across a number of areas including Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Digital Twins, VR and Natural Language Processing.

Over the course of the programme, ARC led 13 industry-aligned research projects, supported a team of 20+ researchers and PhD students, published internationally recognised research, and contributed to the development of deployable systems within PwC. The programme also strengthened Northern Ireland’s global AI presence through international collaborations, government engagement and talent attraction initiatives.

ARC’s legacy continues through spin-out activity, doctoral training expansion and sustained academic–industry collaboration, building on the foundations established during the programme.

ARC Research at Queen's

School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Queen's University Belfast
16 Malone Road
Belfast
Northern Ireland
BT9 6SB