TIMOTHY BRUNDLE (right), director of innovation at the University of Ulster, speaking to Ivan Coulter, chief executive of Sigmoid Pharma, at The Irish TimesInnovation Cities Roadshow event in Belfast last Friday.

Mr Brundle called for a greater acceptance of those prepared to challenge the norms within the business community and within businesses.

Also speaking at the event, angel investor Bryan Keating of CIP Partnership said Northern Ireland was a centre for more innovation by small family firms than is given credit in various innovation reports.

Other speakers included Brian McKimm of E-Synergy, who manages a £10 million (€11.3 million) fund to support start-up businesses across Northern Ireland, and Sigmoid’s Ivan Coulter, a previous winner of The Irish Times Innovation Award who also launched this year’s competition at the event held on the University of Ulster’s Belfast campus.

The closing date for applications for the competition is December 5th.

The next Innovation Cities Roadshow event will be held in Derry on Friday, September 16th, followed by Limerick on Tuesday, September 27th.