Innovation Spaces

Step inside CDHT’s purpose-built environment where community lab spaces and collaborative hubs empower research, testing, and breakthrough development. Each facility is designed to foster innovation, accelerate real-world solutions, and bring digital healthcare ideas to life.

CDHT offers a unique range of purpose-built facilities that brings together researchers, clinicians, companies, and community partners. Within CDHT you’ll find a range of purpose-built facilities designed to take your medical device idea from concept through to development and testing. Whether you need access to specialist labs, clinical environments, or collaborative office space, CDHT connects you directly into Northern Ireland’s MedTech ecosystem.

Facilities and Amenities

  • Creative co-working spaces for tenants in a central Belfast location
  • Modern reception and welcoming public areas for events and engagement
  • High-speed Wi-Fi throughout the building
  • Executive meeting and conference rooms with flexible layouts
  • Bookable shared meeting and presentation rooms
  • Soundproof booths for video calls and huddles
  • Kitchen and coffee points on every floor
  • On-site café and landscaped outdoor seating space
  • Secure bike storage, nearby car parking, showers, changing facilities, and drop-off point

Research and Development Facilities

Our purpose-built 3,800m² facility houses multi-disciplinary R&D laboratories, including:

  • Diagnostics & Biomedical Innovation
  • Bio-Electronics & Bio-Photonics
  • Rapid Prototyping
  • Validation & Testing
  • Computing & Artificial Intelligence
  • Ulster University Trusted Research Environment
  • Co-Design Areas
  • Open Innovation Space

In addition, tenants benefit from:

  • Access to NIBEC Discovery Laboratories
  • Wider Ulster University research facilities
  • Support from dedicated staff to accelerate innovation and collaboration

Over 70 academic staff are based on the Belfast campus, conducting research across healthcare technologies from design and electronics to AI, biophotonics, and wearables.

Innovation Ecosystem

CDHT is part of a globally connected open innovation network, giving companies access to:

  • Collaborative R&D opportunities
  • Publicly funded research proposals
  • Business intelligence resources
  • A thriving MedTech community and cluster of researchers, clinicians, and industry partners

Discover more about our facilities below.

Open Innovation Centre

A collaborative hub for R&D, prototyping, and business growth

Clinical Living Lab

Real-world clinical research and testing within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Community Living Lab

Exploring user needs in simulated UX environments for patient-centred innovation via interventional science methods