ClusterOS Diagnostic Profile
Belfast Innovation Ecosystem
Belfast Innovation Ecosystem runs on 191 evidence items (Belfast Innovation Ecosystem UKRI grants: 2712 grants, £2083m total, 542 dist). The diagnostic resolves a Extraction-Narrative configuration at MEDIUM confidence.
Value extraction events generate narrative about ecosystem success; narrative legitimises continued extraction by framing it as ecosystem contribution; uncertainty about whether extraction is harmful absorbed by the success narrative.
Intermediaries produce narrative about their facilitation role; narrative legitimises intermediary existence and funding; uncertainty about direct coupling absorbed by narrative rather than demonstration.
"A probe could test whether one governance body (e.g., Dept for Economy NI from P002) publishing annual "ecosystem value retention report" (exits by destination, founder relocation, procurement spend by geography) alongside traditional success metrics (total exits, total funding) might reduce the system's ability to absorb extraction signals through success narratives. If retention metrics are low, it may create demand for retention...
Leverage hypotheses are testable perturbations, not prescriptions. Where demand-side behaviour is weakly visible, the correct move is observation — improving visibility before attempting change.
A full ClusterOS diagnostic adds actor questionnaire data, working sessions, and anchor interviews — producing higher-confidence stall identification, board-ready stack analysis, and leverage hypotheses calibrated to your specific context.