Work begins on the £100 million Ulster Factory of the Future

June 14, 2024

Construction has begun on the £100 million Factory of the Future project in Northern Ireland, which is expected to create up to 1,500 jobs in the region, contribute £1 billion to the economy and train 300 apprentices by 2025. The 10,500 m² Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center (AMIC) is being built on the Global Point Business Park in Newtownabbey and is scheduled to open in 2026.

The open access manufacturing and engineering innovation center, with a capacity of 150 employees, will provide the advanced manufacturing, materials and engineering sectors with a specialized environment enabling access to the latest digital, automation and robotics technologies, supported by experienced engineers. The aim is to revitalize the local industry and meet the technological and skills challenges faced by regional producers.

Due to the recent recruitment campaign, AMIDE already has a team of over 50 engineers and support staff working to deliver digitalization and innovation projects for manufacturers across a range of sectors in Northern Ireland.

The Factory of the Future project is being led by Queen’s University Belfast, which is delivering it in partnership with industry, Antrim and Newtownabbey District Council and the University of Ulster as part of a wider £230 million innovation program supported by the UK Government and the Northern Irish Authority under contract with the City in the Belfast region. Almost £80m of AMIC funding comes from the City Deal.

Speaking at the recent sod cutting ceremony, AMIC CEO, Sam Turner, said: “AMIC is already operational and supporting Northern Ireland’s economic growth and prosperity by creating high-quality jobs and increasing inward investment through high-value manufacturing innovation clusters. With core capabilities in manufacturing digitalization, smart design, sustainable polymers and composites and smart nanotechnology, we work with local businesses across the region to address technology and skills challenges.

Dignitaries at a recent sod cutting ceremony on the site of the future Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center

“It’s great to see construction begin on the Factory of the Future, which will enable us to continue to transform the industry, paving the way for future technologies and competing globally with a focus on more sustainability.”

Queen’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Ian Greer, added: “It’s great to mark this important milestone as AMIC begins construction of its state-of-the-art Future Factory. This is a tangible sign of progress that leads to an exciting future for manufacturing in Northern Ireland.

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