Taken as a whole, the level of research activity in HEIs in the BMW region has been significantly below the national average. This is evidenced through the level of funding the region has received through programmes such as PRTLI. The presence of only one significant public research centre (the Marine Institute) is also a contributing factor to this situation. While member institutions have been successful in attracting increased research funding, it is clear that colleges in the region will need enhanced collaborative strategies to secure the additional investment necessary if the region as whole is to be an engine for regional development and be globally competitive in the years ahead.