All-Island Oncology Innovation Cluster

Cancer is one of the most significant health challenges facing populations across both Ireland and Northern Ireland. The island of Ireland hosts internationally recognised centres of excellence in cancer research, clinical care and biotechnology innovation. The All-Island Oncology Innovation Cluster brings together researchers, clinicians, industry partners and innovators from across Ireland and Northern Ireland to accelerate progress in cancer research, digital health and life sciences innovation.

Ireland and Northern Ireland are both striving to become global leaders in the life and health sciences sector, with particular strength in oncology. While significant progress has been made in areas such as digital health, diagnostics, pharmaceutical development, manufacturing and biobanking, a key gap remains: the absence of a coordinated cross-border cluster that connects these strengths to support innovation, collaboration and commercialisation.

The All-Island Oncology Innovation Cluster aims to address this challenge by creating a collaborative ecosystem that links academia, healthcare systems, industry and policymakers. By strengthening partnerships across the island, the cluster aims to accelerate the translation of research discoveries into new diagnostics, therapeutics and technologies that improve cancer outcomes while supporting economic growth in the life sciences sector.

Led by University College Dublin and Queen's University Belfast and supported by InterTradeIreland, the cluster hopes to connect world-leading academic research with industry expertise to drive innovation in oncology. By strengthening collaboration across the island, the initiative aims to translate cutting-edge discoveries into real-world clinical and commercial impact that benefits patients and society.

Through cross-border partnerships, knowledge exchange and engagement with the life sciences sector, the cluster will support the development of new diagnostics, therapeutics and technologies that improve cancer outcomes.

The Case for an All-Island Cluster

The idea for the cluster was informed by the All-Island Oncology Industry Report, launched in April 2024.

Led by the All-Island Cancer Research Institute and supported through the InterTradeIreland Synergy Programme, the report analysed the oncology and digital health innovation landscape across the island. It identified a major opportunity to build a coordinated cluster that could unlock the full potential of collaboration between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The report highlighted that although both jurisdictions possess strong research and industry capabilities, the current ecosystem remains fragmented. Without a coordinated structure to connect stakeholders, there is a risk of duplicated effort, slower research translation and missed economic and scientific opportunities.

Establishing a dedicated cluster organisation provides a mechanism to align expertise, infrastructure and investment, enabling a more powerful and internationally competitive innovation ecosystem.

Learning from Global Innovation Clusters

International experience shows that strong regional clusters play a critical role in driving scientific discovery and commercial success in the life sciences such as Medicon Valley in Denmark and Swede, Biotech Bay in California and Golden Triangle in the United Kingdom.

These regions have demonstrated how bringing together universities, industry partners, investors and policymakers in a coordinated innovation environment can accelerate research translation and attract global investment.

The All-Island Oncology Innovation Cluster seeks to build a similar collaborative model tailored to the strengths and opportunities of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Building on Strong Foundations

The cluster builds upon an already vibrant research and innovation ecosystem across the island of Ireland. Ireland and Northern Ireland each possess distinct but highly complementary strengths in oncology innovation.

Northern Ireland has particular expertise in precision medicine, diagnostics, digital health and entrepreneurship, supported by initiatives such as the rollout of the Encompass Electronic Care Record, a transformative digital health infrastructure across the region.

Ireland has global leadership in pharmaceutical manufacturing, digital health platforms and clinical research infrastructure.

Both Queen's University Belfast and University College Dublin have strong records in research commercialisation and spin-out activity. Through QUBIS, Queen’s University Belfast has generated more than 100 spin-out companies, including Fusion Antibodies and Kainos.

In Ireland, NovaUCD has supported over 70 start-ups, including OncoMark, later acquired by Cepheid and Equal1, a quantum computing company attracting global investment.

The cluster will also connect and amplify major research initiatives already underway, including:

• iREACH-Health

• Momentum One Zero

• Precision Oncology Ireland

• Future Medicines Institute

• ARC Hub for Therapeutics

By creating a coordinated cluster framework, these complementary strengths can be connected to support more efficient research translation and innovation development.

Supporting Industry and SMEs

A core focus of the cluster aims to support companies working in oncology, biotechnology, medical technology and digital health.

Small and medium-sized enterprises play a critical role in innovation but often face barriers such as limited access to research infrastructure, funding, regulatory expertise and international investment networks.

The cluster aims help address these challenges by providing:

• access to shared research infrastructure

• collaboration opportunities with leading academic groups

• support for regulatory navigation and clinical development

• mentoring and partnership pathways

• improved access to funding and investment networks

By strengthening the connection between academia and industry, the cluster aims to create an environment where innovative companies can grow and thrive.