New Centre For Food And Drug Discovery Website Launched As Causeway Coast And Glens Growth Deal Moves Into Delivery Phase

A new website showcasing plans for Ulster University's Centre for Food and Drug Discovery (CFDD) has been launched to coincide with the formal signing of the £129 million Causeway Coast and Glens Growth Deal.

The dedicated webpage, available at www.ulster.ac.uk/cfdd, provides details about the centre's planned facilities and outlines how businesses and industry partners can engage with the project.

The launch comes following the official signing of the Growth Deal Financial Agreement earlier this year at North West Regional College in Limavady, a milestone that unlocks funding for nine major projects across the borough, including the Centre for Food and Drug Discovery, which will be based at Ulster University's Coleraine campus.

The Growth Deal has been designed to boost economic productivity, drive innovation, support regeneration and create new opportunities throughout the Causeway Coast and Glens area.

The Centre for Food and Drug Discovery is one of the flagship projects within the deal and aims to position Northern Ireland as a leading hub for food innovation and drug discovery. Building on Ulster University's existing strengths in biomedical sciences and nutrition, the centre will work with companies from concept through to commercialisation, supporting the development of new products designed to improve health and wellbeing.

Professor Paul Bartholomew, Vice-Chancellor of Ulster University, said the signing of the agreement marked a significant step forward for the project.

"Through transformational projects such as the Centre for Food and Drug Discovery, Ulster University is driving growth and development, boosting productivity and creating a strong pipeline of skills in key sectors in Northern Ireland and beyond.

"It marks meaningful progress in our delivery of the CFDD, a flagship innovation project that will significantly expand our research and innovation capacity in Coleraine."

He added that the centre had been developed in response to the needs of the life sciences sector and would build on the university's long-standing collaboration with industry partners.

Professor Victor Gault, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, said the centre would create new opportunities for innovation and investment.

"At the heart of the Centre for Food and Drug Discovery is a genuine partnership between academia and industry, working to drive new ideas and commercial opportunities," he said.

"Through the Growth Deal, we are creating the conditions for innovation, investment and high-value jobs that will deliver long-term economic and social benefits for the Causeway Coast and Glens region."

Professor Chris Gill, Project Lead for the Centre for Food and Drug Discovery, described the facility as a "one-stop shop" for businesses.

He said the centre would provide an innovation pipeline accessible to companies of all sizes, offering access to specialist facilities including a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) toxicology suite, analytical and genomic technologies and a bespoke clinical trials unit.

The wider Causeway Coast and Glens Growth Deal represents a combined investment package of £129 million and includes projects aimed at driving innovation, broadening skills pathways, strengthening communities and enhancing economic resilience across the borough.

Speaking at the official signing ceremony, Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, described the deal as "an investment in our people, our places and our future".

First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the agreement marked "an exciting new chapter" for the region, while Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said it represented the transition from planning to delivery and would support jobs, local businesses and regeneration.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn said the UK Government's £36 million contribution would support several innovation and skills projects, including the Centre for Food and Drug Discovery, helping to unlock the region's economic potential.

Further information about the Centre for Food and Drug Discovery can be found at www.ulster.ac.uk/cfdd.