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Driving the Future of Healthcare: Health Frontiers – Technology Innovation Centre Launches to Power Cross-Border Innovation
ATU celebrated the official launch of the Health Frontiers-Technology Innovation Centre, a flagship €9.1M PEACEPLUS-funded project, supported by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and lead by Ulster University.
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is a key academic partner in the Health Frontiers project contributing research expertise from the Wireless Sensor Applied Research Lab in ATU Donegal, led by Dr Nick Timmons, and the Nanotechnology and Bioengineering Research Group in ATU Sligo, led by Professor Suresh Pilau. The Health Frontiers project will drive cutting-edge research and development in medical devices, artificial intelligence, and digital health systems, supporting clinicians and health systems to embed technology-driven care pathways. ATU’s research will focus on healthcare innovation aligned to the Internet of Things (IoT), working with companies to develop solutions in areas such as wearables, healthcare monitoring, and remote sensing.
The launch event, held at Ulster University Belfast, brought together academic leaders, government representatives, clinical partners, and industry stakeholders to mark the beginning of this transformative collaboration. Health Frontiers aims to strengthen research capacity, enhance clinical adoption of advanced technologies, and drive innovation-led economic growth throughout the Programme Area.
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said:
“This important new project marks a positive development for digital innovation and will accelerate the adoption of advanced digital technologies across the Life and Health Sciences sector.
“By driving commercially focused research, supporting SMEs and building skills, Health Frontiers will boost productivity, strengthen cross-border partnerships, and create high-value jobs, positioning the north as a key player in MedTech innovation.
“I congratulate all partners on this achievement and look forward to the lasting benefits it will deliver for our economy and health outcomes.”
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD said:
“The launch of the Health Frontiers–Technology Innovation Centre marks a significant step forward in harnessing innovation to transform healthcare across our region. By bringing together expertise in medical technology, artificial intelligence and digital health, this project will not only improve patient outcomes but also strengthen cross-border collaboration and economic growth.
This initiative will accelerate the development of advanced medical technologies and digital health solutions, ensuring that clinicians and health systems have access to cutting-edge tools that improve patient care. The support provided through the PEACEPLUS programme demonstrates our shared commitment to building a healthier, more connected future for communities in Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Scotland.
SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said:
“By investing in collaborative innovation through projects like Health Frontiers, we are creating strong, entrepreneurial ecosystems that drive sustainable growth, increased productivity and competitive advantage. This will lead to a more prosperous society and more opportunities for our citizens.
“We look forward to supporting the research organisations, enterprises, and SMEs involved in this project as they work towards delivering cutting-edge solutions in healthcare technology.”
Driving Impact Across Borders
The Health Frontiers initiative will transform healthcare by bringing together 11 leading academic and clinical partners to tackle real-world challenges. Through collaboration with 25 MedTech small-medium enterprises (SMEs), the project will drive innovation that directly benefits patients, developing more than 25 new products and processes designed to improve care and outcomes.
Beyond advancing medical technology, Health Frontiers will create jobs, strengthen cross-border partnerships, and foster long-term economic and social growth, ensuring that breakthroughs in research translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
Health Frontiers will focus on three interlinked areas of innovation:
- Next Generation Medical Device Technologies – Designing and validating innovative, user-centred devices focused on key clinical challenges.
- Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health Systems – Harnessing data science, machine learning, and AI to enhance clinical decision-making and care delivery.
- Digital Transformation of Clinical Practice and Culture – Supporting clinicians and health systems to adopt, trust, and embed technology-driven care pathways.
Professor Jim McLaughlin, Ulster University Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Principal Investigator for Health Frontiers said:
“Health Frontiers will play a major role by further developing the Digital Health Technology sector to enhance cross border collaborations in order to drive economic, health, and social impact through innovation, job creation in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. We are delighted to be bringing together world-class strengths to address this important government priority across all the jurisdictions.”
Professor Liam Maguire, PVC for Research at Ulster University, said:
“The launch of Health Frontiers marks a defining moment for health technology innovation in these islands. By combining world-class research expertise with clinical insight and industry collaboration, we are creating a powerful ecosystem that will accelerate the development and adoption of technologies that improve patient outcomes and transform healthcare delivery.”
Dr Stephen Seawright, Head of the WiSAR technology Gateway at Atlantic Technological University said:
Health Frontiers is a significant step forward to advance medical device research in a full-scale Medtech ecosystem enabled by the broad collaboration of world-class research expertise, clinicians and healthcare providers. We look forward to working with enterprises to address real-world complex challenges in healthcare through novel technical innovation.
Collaborative Partners
Health Frontiers brings together 11 academic and clinical organisations across three regions, alongside 25 MedTech SMEs. Partners include:
- Ulster University (Lead Institution)
- Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), Dublin City University (DCU), University College Dublin (UCD), Atlantic Technological University (ATU) – Ireland
- Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) – Scotland
- Southern, Belfast, and Northern Health & Social Care Trusts – Northern Ireland
- Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI)
Together, these partners form a dynamic ecosystem committed to accelerating health technology innovation from concept to clinical adoption.
Photo Caption:
Top Row(L-R): Karim Mahmoud, Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre Scotland; Mr. Aaron Niblock, Consultant Northern Health & Social Care Trusts; Paul Sheridan, Director of Corporate Services, SEUPB; Paschal McCloskey, Connected Health Innovation Centre; Professor Brian Caulfield, University College Dublin; Mr. David McEneaney, Consultant Southern Health and Social Care Trust.
Bottom Row (L-R): Dr. Stephen Seawright, WiSAR Lab, Atlantic Technological University; Caroline McEvoy, Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI); Professor James McLaughlin CBE, Principal Investigator and Lead Partner, Health Frontiers-Technology Innovation Centre; Professor Paul Cahill, Dublin City University (DCU); Dr. Julie Doyle, Dundalk IT.
Aidan Haughey
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