Manufacturing institute given green light in Scotland

Situated on Netherton Campus at the centre of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS), the new facility hopes to transform manufacturing in Scotland.

The facility will include a skills academy, a fully digitalised factory of the future and a collaboration hub. The new facility will help support manufacturing and engineering firms of all sizes and from all sectors across the country, and internationally, to innovate and grow their businesses.

NMIS is a group of industry-led manufacturing R&D facilities where industry, academia and the public sector work together on ground-breaking manufacturing research to transform productivity levels, make companies more competitive and boost the skills of our current and future workforce.

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It is operated by the University of Strathclyde and supported by the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Funding Council and Renfrewshire Council.

Sir Jim McDonald, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, commented: “This is a major step in the journey towards revitalising our industrial base and in re-establishing Scotland’s international reputation for manufacturing excellence.

“The University of Strathclyde is proud to be the anchor university for NMIS and we look forward to working with industry partners to bring our world-class expertise and research to support skills development and economic growth.”

The new facility, along with the NMIS specialist technology centres: Lightweight Manufacturing Centre and Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre – the only High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre in Scotland – are key facilities in the manufacturing innovation district being developed next to Glasgow Airport, with Netherton Campus also home to the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre.

Construction is well underway on the district’s enabling infrastructure, funded through the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

Ross Barrett, associate at Glasgow-based HLM Architects, and lead on the NMIS design team said: “This new facility will provide an inspiring and supportive environment for manufacturing firms in Scotland to thrive. It not only offers a variety of different spaces and environments for learning, collaboration and innovation, but is also a landmark in its architecture and an exemplar in carbon neutral design.”

NMIS www.NMIS.scot