The Strategic Technology Roadmap has been published following a detailed consultation on technology and skills needs for the next decade with over 100 leaders in advanced manufacturing on behalf of the £98m Belfast Region City Deal-funded Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC).
The Roadmap has identified key priorities for AMIC to improve Northern Ireland’s distinctive strengths in the area and outlines how it can support the region’s large, world-class companies as well as its agile innovation-ready SMEs.
The Northern Ireland economy is currently dominated by small companies with limited capability for innovation and these companies require significant local support to enable them to develop new technology, access innovation initiatives and engage with national support structures.
Consultation for the report was carried out by experts from the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Manufacturing in partnership with representatives from the mechanical, electrical, aerospace, automation, food and drink processing, and composites sectors across Northern Ireland.
The launch of the report comes ahead of the first meeting of the AMIC Industry Board, chaired by John Irwin, Managing Director of Denroy, and includes leaders from 20 local companies. The Board will ensure that AMIC’s industry partners shape strategic decisions around technology priorities and capital equipment investment.
Professor Paul Maropoulos, AMIC Project Director, said:
“We are working collaboratively with industry to ensure that AMIC, which will be Northern Ireland’s national centre for advanced manufacturing, will support companies to significantly accelerate levels of innovation.
“The Roadmap is a valuable document highlighting the needs of the local manufacturing sector for the next decade and will shape the decisions that we make around AMIC to ensure that it is a springboard for manufacturing in the region.”
The report is available for download here.