Queen’s appoints new Chief Executive of QUBIS

Queen’s University’s venture spin-out company, QUBIS, has appointed Frank Bryan as acting Chief Executive. Mr Bryan, who sits on the board of the Institute of Directors (UK), has served on the board of QUBIS as Non-Executive Director for the past three years.

Established in 1984 to commercialise Queen’s research and development activities, QUBIS is currently the leading company in the UK and Ireland for revenue generation created through its spin-out companies. The company is second only to the University of Cambridge for job creation through its spin-outs, with 1,123 higher value jobs created since its inception.

Mr Bryan graduated from Queen’s in 1984 with a BSc Honours in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. He is a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, a Chartered Electrical Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Directors. He is currently Managing Director of Bryan Powercom Ltd, a company specialising in computer networking, fibre-optics and electrical contracting, and of Spectacular Lighting, which specialises in the adaptation of American technology to synchronise light shows to music. Mr Bryan is also a Governor of the Belfast Metropolitan College, a member of Halo, Northern Ireland’s first angel investor group and a founder member of MATRIX, Northern Ireland’s Science & Technology Strategy Panel.

Welcoming the appointment, Queen’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Peter Gregson, said: “I am delighted Frank has accepted this interim appointment. Frank graduated from Queen’s in the same year QUBIS was launched, and in the intervening years both have achieved remarkable success.”

“With Frank’s widespread experience of industry, his visionary qualities, and his passion for knowledge exchange, I am confident QUBIS will continue to bolster Northern Ireland’s global reputation as a place to invest and do business in.”

Speaking on his appointment, Frank Bryan said: “Having served on the Board of QUBIS for the past three years, I was delighted to have the opportunity to take on the Chief Executive role.  The University’s academics are our knowledge generators, and by working in partnership with them and the University’s Research & Enterprise Directorate, QUBIS plays a vital role in facilitating the transition of great research and know-how from inside Queen’s to the market place.

“Never has the ability to create higher value jobs, and fresh revenue streams from export markets, been more essential for the Northern Ireland economy.  QUBIS has an enviable track record in this arena and in recent times played a key part in Queen’s being named the Times Higher Education UK Entrepreneurial University of the Year. The opportunity to build a more successful future starts every day, and I look forward to working with my new colleagues in QUBIS and across the University to make that a reality.”

Last year QUBIS spin-outs generated revenue of £120 million, with 95 per cent of sales overseas. Recent additions to the QUBIS portfolio over the last 12 months include Tactility Factory, Xenosense II, PDC and Lewis Fertility Testing which markets a groundbreaking new test for male infertility.