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Northern Ireland's two universities are set to get a Pounds 40 million boost for research over the next four years.

Ulster University and Queen's University, Belfast, have long complained about government underfunding for research compared with mainland institutions.

Higher and further education minister Sean Farren this week told the Stormont assembly that the government will give the universities up to Pounds 20 million in matching funding and Queen's and UU would raise the rest from private sources.

The universities must submit research plans by the autumn to the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council, which will convene an international panel of experts to assess the bids by November.