Dr Rob Grundy has been appointed for a three-year term as the new northern co-chair of the US-Ireland R&D Partnership steering group.
The Partnership, which supports leading edge, collaborative, scientific research between universities in the north and south of Ireland and the United States, focuses on generating valuable discoveries and innovations in key priority areas including sensors, nanotechnology, telecommunications, energy and sustainability, cyber security, health and agriculture.
Dr Grundy has spent more than 25 years in pharma and biotech, beginning in drug discovery and development in large pharma at Schering-Plough and GlaxoSmithKline.
He formerly chaired Matrix, the science and technology policy panel for the Stormont government and represented Northern Ireland on the Chief Scientific Advisors Network for the UK between 2022 and 2024.
Since February this year he has served as director of innovation partnerships at Catalyst.
His appointment – which is not a paid role – was ratified by economy minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald.