Dr Norman Apsley, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Science Park and who has just been appointed Vice President of the Institute of Physics (IoP), said that lifting the cap on students wishing to enter STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics – would send a positive message to new businesses and potential inward investors.

“If increasing exports can help to rebalance the economy, it makes sense to increase the flow of skilled, qualified young people into key export areas,” he said.

“IoP research has found that physics-based sectors exported £92.9 billion in 2005, or 29 per cent of the total value of UK exports. Lifting the MaSN CAP on STEM subjects services both the FE sector and the broader needs of our economy.”

Northern Ireland’s main strength, he said, lay within its “vast pool” of young talent.

“We are among the best in Europe when it comes to the quality of our skilled young people leaving universities here. So lifting the MaSN cap on STEM subjects sends out the confidence-building message that the flow of highly qualified young professionals will increase at a time when the economy most needs them.”

The recession in the irish Republic should focus policy minds on long-term plans to maintain economic buoyancy, he added.

Dr Apsley joined the Northern Ireland Science Park Foundation as its first Chief Executive on return from England, where he was involved for some 30 years in applied research and the commercialisation of research, latterly as Director of a £60 million physics-based research organisation.

Other posts include Board member of University of Ulster Science and Research Park where he is also a visiting Professor, and membership of the Nanotechnology Panel of Matrix. He also contributes a weekly column to the News Letter on innovation.