Committee celebrates innovation in the North West to mark beginning of Creativity Month

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure is highlighting the contribution of the creative industries with a visit to the North West Science Park at their Fort George centre. The visit takes place as part of activities designed to mark the beginning of Creativity Month.

Chairperson of the Committee Nelson McCausland MLA said: "The North West Science Park makes an important contribution to both the creative and economic life of Northern Ireland. The Park provides high quality flexible accommodation for start-ups and other business and most of the tenants work in the fast growing creative sectors.

"Over the past few years the North West has developed a reputation for being a place where digital and technology companies are creating the highest quality material for both TV and films."

During their stay in the North West, the Committee will also visit the Nerve Centre in Derry~Londonderry to see the FabLab which is a digital fabrication workshop allowing anyone to manufacture items designed with 2D or 3D software. The FabLab workshop model was developed in the US by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and enables community, educational, and innovation groups to work with other labs across the world.

Mr McCausland said: "My Committee believes that growing the creative and technology sectors will make a real contribution to our economy as well as providing career opportunities for our young people.

"We are very pleased to support all of these important projects and to mark the beginning of Creativity Month which highlights the work of all the creative industries."

ENDS.

Notes to Editors

1. The North West Science Park at Fort George is funded by the EU INTERREG IV-A Programme. The Science Park provides 50,000 square foot of flexible workspace on the banks of the Foyle, on the site of the former army barracks.
2. The Department for Social Development NI is both the owner of the NW Science Park site and provided funding of £1.1m.
3. Match-funding for the project has also been provided by both the Department of Finance & Personnel in NI and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in the Republic of Ireland.