Northern Ireland Economy Minister Simon Hamilton has welcomed a Government report showing an increase in spending
on R&D in 2015 by Northern Ireland businesses.

Mr Hamilton said: “I am very encouraged by these figures; investment in R&D is critical to future economic growth. With 2015 expenditure 24% up on 2014 and the number of companies spending on R&D up from 659 to 714, this is definitely a move in the right direction and something I want to further encourage.

“We are only at the start of our journey, having come through the downturn and made significant strides forward in re-balancing our economy.

"Innovation in all its forms is central to this journey, and with some 90% of the increase in R&D expenditure coming from businesses in the private sector, I think we can feel confident that we are heading in the right direction.”