QUEEN’S University, Belfast has unveiled the foundation stone for its new £39m School of Biological Sciences.
The new school will be a key driver for the development and future growth of the life sciences and agri-food sectors in Northern Ireland, which currently employ some 80,000 people and generate more than £5.5bn in sales each year.
Building the new school will also support 550 jobs in the construction sector, including staff from the main contractor O’Hare and McGovern, and a range of other firms.
The new school, which is being built at Chlorine Gardens in Belfast, will offer state-of the art teaching and research facilities for its 750 students and 170 staff, who will tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Due to open in 2018, the building will provide the facilities to help grow the life sciences sector, especially in areas such as agriculture/food science, food safety, disease / infection biology, diagnostics, waste management, ecosystems and the environment. The Life and Health Sciences and AgriFood sectors are key to driving future economic prosperity in Northern Ireland. The graduates who will be trained within the new building will underpin these areas and help facilitate future growth.
Announcing his support for the new School of Biological Sciences building, Minister for the Economy, Simon Hamilton, said: “The investment by the Department for the Economy helps to support Queen’s University in providing modern up-to-date facilities and will enhance the wider infrastructure within higher education.
“This development is a key part of the University’s long term vision to create state of- the-art facilities and will support research and education into the next decade and beyond. Promoting the growth of our knowledge economy is a key aim of my department and it is vital we create an environment for students to gain confidence, develop their skills and reach their full potential.
“It is through nurturing creativity and innovation we are able to support future economic development and employment opportunities.”