Participating Universities
Queen’s University Belfast
Queen’s University Belfast is a Russell Group university and one of the UK’s leading research-intensive institutions, with over 99% of its research environment rated world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021).
As a partner of the WE Innovate programme, Queen’s brings deep expertise in entrepreneurship, commercialisation and inclusive innovation.
Through strong research capabilities in engineering, digital technologies, health, advanced manufacturing and sustainable energy, Queen’s supports innovators addressing societal and economic challenges. The University plays a pivotal role in developing female entrepreneurship and leadership pipelines across Northern Ireland, aligning directly with WE Innovate’s mission to empower women founders to scale high-impact ventures.
Commercialisation is delivered through QUBIS, which has supported the creation of over 100 spin-out companies, generated more than 4,500 jobs and helped ventures raise over £100m in capital. This proven track record in translating research into scalable businesses strengthens the WE Innovate pathway from idea validation to investment readiness and growth.
Bridging regions: A successful pilot
with Queen’s University Belfast
In 2025, WE Innovate National welcomed Queen’s University Belfast for its first pilot, where 25 teams joined the programme to compete for a share of each university’s £30k award – a combined £60k prize fund.
The pilot was a resounding success and served as a powerful platform for knowledge exchange, enabling regional programmes to benefit from Imperial’s proven methodologies.
Participants from both South East England and Northern Ireland expanded their professional networks, shared expertise, and built lasting connections across regions.
Established partnerships
Queen’s works in close collaboration with regional, national and international partners to create a supportive environment for founders and scale-ups.
Facilities & Infrastructure
The University hosts advanced prototyping, engineering and digital innovation facilities, alongside dedicated entrepreneurship spaces supporting early-stage venture development.
Industry & Government
Queen’s maintains strong relationships with Invest Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council and a wide network of SMEs and multinational companies including Spirit AeroSystems and Allstate (Northern Ireland operations). These partnerships provide founders with routes to pilot customers, supply chains and global markets.
Industry & Government
Queen’s maintains strong relationships with Invest Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council and a wide network of SMEs and multinational companies including Spirit AeroSystems and Allstate (Northern Ireland operations). These partnerships provide founders with routes to pilot customers, supply chains and global markets.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation Networks
Queen’s is an active participant in UK-wide innovation and enterprise initiatives, including Innovate UK programmes and cross-university collaborations.
Through QUBIS and dedicated enterprise teams, the University provides structured support in IP strategy, market validation, spin-out formation and investor engagement, all key enablers aligned with WE Innovate’s objectives of building scalable, investment-ready women-led ventures.
Innovation Ecosystem
Belfast is one of the UK’s fastest-growing innovation economies, with strong clusters in advanced manufacturing, fintech, cybersecurity, healthtech and clean energy. Queen’s anchors this ecosystem, working alongside Invest Northern Ireland and regional accelerators to support high-growth entrepreneurship.
Programmes such as ICURe, innovation vouchers and dedicated spin-out support provide founders – including women entrepreneurs through WE Innovate – with access to mentorship, funding pathways and commercial expertise. The result is a connected ecosystem that supports venture creation, scale and long-term economic impact across Northern Ireland.
Regional Specialisms
Northern Ireland offers particular strengths in:
- Advanced manufacturing and aerospace
- Digital and cybersecurity innovation
- Health and life sciences
- Sustainable energy and net zero technologies
Combined with Queen’s research excellence and QUBIS commercialisation expertise, these specialisms provide WE Innovate participants with access to high-value sectors, experienced mentors and strong routes to investment and scale.
Sharon Morgan Young
Head of Innovation Programmes
Queen’s University Belfast
“WE Innovate is a transformative programme because it tackles one of the most persistent gaps in the innovation economy – equitable access to opportunity, investment and networks for women founders. At Queen’s, we see extraordinary ambition and capability across our female researchers, students and entrepreneurs, yet structural barriers can still limit progression from idea to scale.
Through WE Innovate, we are not only building venture-readiness and commercial confidence, we are creating visible pathways to leadership, investment and impact. The programme strengthens Northern Ireland’s female founder ecosystem by connecting women to mentors, investors and peer networks that accelerate growth.
For Queen’s and for the wider region, WE Innovate represents more than entrepreneurship support, it is about unlocking untapped potential, driving inclusive innovation, and ensuring that the next generation of high-growth businesses emerging from Northern Ireland reflects the full diversity of our talent.”translating research into scalable businesses strengthens the WE Innovate pathway from idea validation to investment readiness and growth.”
A national network
Explore WE Innovate National's partners, chosen for a combination of proven entrepreneurial infrastructure, research intensity, and geographic reach, ensuring every one of the UK's four nations has a founder-facing hub.
Imperial College London
WE Innovate was launched by Imperial College London in 2014 and has supported over 500 women-led teams since its inception.
Swansea University
A research‑led, world‑class institution committed to developing transformative ideas and supporting entrepreneurial talent.
Durham University
A globally recognised research-intensive institution with a strong commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal impact.
Loughborough University
A dynamic innovation ecosystem that sparks student curiosity, develops world-changing research breakthroughs, and works with graduates, staff and partners to support start-ups.
Queen's University Belfast
One of the UK’s leading research-intensive institutions, with over 99% of its research environment rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
University of Glasgow
Innovation and entrepreneurship are at the heart of its strategy, translating world-class research into economic and societal impact.
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