Dr Norman Apsley, a native of Larne, Co Antrim, has been appointed chief executive of the Northern Ireland Science Park Foundation based at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast.

The foundation, which will create some 3,000 high skilled jobs, is designed to provide opportunities for commercial exploitation of expertise from universities and attract R&D investment from companies.

Dr Apsley will be responsible for building links between the public and private sector and developing the science park concept as part of the British Chancellor of the Exchequer's package of economic initiatives for Northern Ireland.

Speaking to The Irish Times yesterday, Dr Aspley said the main focus at the park would be on research, development and design. He said the park should aim to create an "entrepreneurial fire" in Belfast and promote indigenous companies. "We will have an innovation centre which will work closely with incubators to bring in companies with 4 or 5 staff," he said. "Trying and failing early should be no inhibitor for these companies."

He said the foundation was already in discussions with some potential tenants at the park who were interested in gaining premises close to Belfast city centre.

But there are unlikely to be any formal announcements by companies locating in the park until the first buildings are finished next summer, he said.

Dr Apsley has been involved for more than 30 years in applied and commercial research activity, most recently as a director of the electronics division within the multi-million pound research organisation Defence Evaluation Research Agency. He has published around 70 papers, patents and reports and created partnerships with global multinational companies such as Ford, Sumitomo, Siemens, Marconi and Sharp.

Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, welcomed the appointment and the development of the science park as one of the key recommendations in Strategy 2010.