Why invest in the Belfast region?
A great place to call home
The Belfast region is home to a population of over 1.13 million, living in a well-connected, compact network of vibrant towns and cities, situated close to nature and surrounded by rugged mountains, wild coastlines and beautiful beaches.
The Belfast region is committed to becoming inclusive, resilient and carbon neutral. We’re working to protect the environment for future generations by using our natural resources and assets carefully and tackling climate change - not only by encouraging greater use of low emission vehicles, active travel and public transport, but also by producing electric and hydrogen vehicles for sale across the globe.
We have an outstanding education system, diverse employment opportunities and a high quality, affordable way of life.
Perfectly positioned
The Belfast region is strong on connections. Not just between people and organisations – between cities and countries too. You’ll find it easy to do business here. In 2024 Belfast Grand Central, the largest multimodal transport hub on the island opened following a £340m investment.
Strategically located between Europe and the US, our region and people have always looked outward and welcomed strong connections with the rest of the world.
The Belfast region is well serviced by road, rail, air and sea. Dublin and London are within easy reach. There are three international airports located 90 minutes drive from Belfast city centre, providing direct flights to:
- 202 destinations
- in 41 countries and
- three major ports
Innovation is in our DNA
Once world leaders in linen production and shipbuilding, today we’re making waves in ICT, Fintech, Medtech, Advanced Manufacturing, the digital creative industries and more.
Our fibre connectivity is already amongst the best in Europe, with major investments in place to deliver worldclass advanced wireless networks that will future-proof our digital infrastructure and establish a series of regional hubs as places that focus and accelerate collaboration and the growth of our innovation economy. Full fibre broadband is available to 148,000 homes and businesses in Belfast.
An inherent ability to problem solve has made the Belfast region an industrial success story for hundreds of years. We have a tight-knit, engaged ecosystem of SMEs, researchers, corporations, entrepreneurs and start-ups.
Today, Belfast is the UK’s second fastest growing knowledge economy. The Belfast region is already home to globally recognised research centres in secure information technologies, cognitive robotics, renewable technologies and cancer research, with major Belfast Region City Deal investments in advanced manufacturing, connected health technologies, virtual film production, digital twins, agrifood and net zero.
We’re investing in our city centre smart district, the Titanic Quarter innovation district and a series of regional hubs, as places that focus and accelerate collaboration and the growth of our innovation economy.
A region of talent
The Belfast region is brimming with talent and creativity. 67,515 full and part-time students are enrolled in higher education in Northern Ireland, creating a pipeline of highly educated, adaptable young people who are primed for success.
Our two outstanding universities, Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University, play a central role: connecting people and ideas, creativity and commerce. Driving innovation and our knowledge economy.
Our network of industry-facing Further Education Colleges is also investing in the skills pipeline needed to fill the jobs being created across our growth sectors. Investment from the £1bn Belfast Region City Deal, and an enhanced focus on meeting the needs of our fast-growing indigenous businesses and global investors through our assured skills and employment academies, means we can match our talent to your ambitions.
Ulster University was crowned University of the Year in the 2024 Times Higher Education Awards, recognising the university as the top higher education institution in the UK and Ireland. Ulster University was hailed as a “force for good in fostering peace, prosperity and cohesion” and the judges further recognised the university’s impressive progress in research, particularly in medical technology and quantum computing, in teaching, student experience and graduate outcomes. The award also honoured the completion of Ulster’s £364 million new state-of-the-art Belfast city centre campus, one of the largest higher education capital projects in Europe, which was also recently named Building of the Year by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects.
Queens University Belfast is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading universities and continues to grow its global reputation for teaching and research. The ninth oldest university in the UK, the beautiful campus symbolises both the rich history and academic heritage of Queen’s. Founded in 1845, Queen’s has grown from a small cohort of students to a thriving multi-cultural community of over 4,200 staff and 24,000 students. Queens University Belfast is ranked in the Top 200 universities in the world for impact and sustainability (THE Impact Rankings 2024/QS World University Rankings 2025: Sustainability) Belfast is the UK’s most affordable student city (Natwest Student Living Index 2024). Queens University Belfast, a member of the prestigious Russell Group of 24 UK research intensive universities, is ranked 13th in the UK for Research Intensity (Complete University Guide 2025). The university’s research has global impact - 99 per cent of its research environment is world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021).
It’s easy to network and do business here
The Belfast region is compact, with strong relationships between government, universities, colleges and business - working together to help drive the region’s economy.
Leading businesses are working together with our councils, colleges and universities to deliver assured skills programmes and employment academies which provide tailored solutions to meet current and future skills gaps.
Our outstanding universities and third level institutions are pragmatic and business-focused, working closely with industry to deliver courses which develop highly employable graduates with the necessary skills and drive to succeed. Over 4,500 people are employed through 105 active Queen’s University Belfast spin out companies.
An enviable track record in attracting investment
The Belfast region is the powerhouse of the local economy, with an enviable track record in attracting investment. NI is now home to nearly 1,225 international companies including global brands like PwC, Wrightbus, Spirit AeroSystems, Allstate, Coca-Cola HBC, Randox, 3M and Norbrook.
Belfast has been successful at attracting foreign direct investment into high business growth sectors, particularly technology and financial services, and the city’s skyline has changed dramatically in recent years, with the development of new Grade A office space, hotels and purpose-built student accommodation.
The new Ulster University campus in the heart of the city centre has resulted in significant investment in purpose-built student accommodation, bringing new residents and vitality. Students and the growing city centre workforce are fuelling the demand for city centre residential accommodation.
Investment opportunities continue to be created across the Belfast region through the development of more than £300 million new, globally visible tourism experiences and transformative plans for the regeneration of our major towns and cities.
