19th May 2017
The official opening of Irish Manufacturing Research, Ireland’s first Independent, industry driven, Research and Technology Organisation took place today with the creation of forty jobs. The Centre specialises in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies and the positions will be high tech research roles in the areas of Industry 4.0, Collaborative Robotics, Industrial IoT, Data Analytics, Energy Efficiency, Additive Manufacturing/3D printing, Design Thinking and Knowledge Management. All positions will be based in Dublin West.
Minister Frances Fitzgerald, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation were present to officially open the Centre.
The Centre’s mission is to carry out cutting edge Research, Development and Innovation in close collaboration with manufacturing companies to ensure industry in Ireland can become, and remain, world-class leaders in their field. The Centre brings together over 100 indigenous and multinational manufacturers to share the challenges and opportunities in next generation manufacturing.
An initial investment of €15 million under the Enterprise-Ireland and IDA Technology Centre programme is being scaled up through significant additional private and public research funding to create an International Centre of Scale for Ireland in Industry driven Applied Manufacturing Research.
Manufacturing in Ireland accounts for 24% of GDP, far in excess of EU averages, and the industry assisted in sustaining Irish jobs, and the economy, through the downturn. The Irish Manufacturing Research Centre is ensuring that Irish based manufacturers are ready to deal with future technological and business challenges through a comprehensive portfolio of research, funding opportunities, advanced skills development and networking. This comes at a significant industrial inflection point with the emergence of the 4th industrial revolution, and with competitive global threats that Ireland is facing, such as Brexit.
The Centre has over 400 years of industrial experience already embedded in the organisation as it announces a further 40 jobs in 2017, with ambitious plans to grow to over 200. The Centre already boasts skills in key strategic areas for industry.
It is actively tackling the challenges facing companies for emerging skillsthrough advanced training programs and collaborative cross-sector research. It is an environment for industry to tackle high risk technologies through a shared risk model of research and development and pilot line test beds.
Speaking at the event Tánaiste France Fitzgerald TD said: “Today marks the formal opening of Ireland’s first Independent industry driven Research and Technology Organisation, Irish Manufacturing Research. I congratulate the centre on the high standard of building offices and interior design - giving a sense of openness, creativity, in a collaborative, business like work-place. I am delighted to announce the 40 hi-tech jobs in the centre, with plans to scale to 200 jobs as investment from industry grows within the centre. This new Centre is in a strategic location here in Aerodrome Business Park, with easy access for manufacturers from across the country. It is investments like this from IMR that help make the Irish economy strong so that we can support new measures to make Ireland even more attractive to new investment and jobs. I want to wish Barry and all your team every success with the opening of your new Centre, and I look forward to seeing IMR grow even further.”
At the launch, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. said, “"Innovation 2020, our national strategy for research and development, science and technology, recognises the need for greater R&D support in the area of Advanced Manufacturing. This means meeting the research and development needs of the manufacturing sector in a range of emerging areas such as Robotics, Internet of Things and Additive Manufacturing. My Department, through Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland is delighted to support the establishment of IMR which will directly support innovation in the manufacturing sector and ultimately contribute to growth in export levels and in turn job creation. My Department is also working closely with its enterprise agencies to ensure we continue to develop our supports in this important sector”.
Speaking at the opening, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, Julie Sinnamon said; “Enterprise Ireland’s strategy is to support Irish businesses to build scale and expand their reach into international markets and we are delighted to back the establishment of the Irish Manufacturing Research Centre which will directly support innovation across the manufacturing sector and ultimately contribute to export growth. The need for greater levels of innovation among Irish companies as part of their response to Brexit is crucial and the opening of the new centre today is well timed, pooling the innovative talents of all the stakeholders involved to compete internationally, offering best in class research facilities and further leveraging our strong international reputation in the sector.”
Speaking at the launch, Barry Kennedy, Chief Executive of Irish Manufacturing Research spoke of the significant advancements that the Research Centre has made since its initial establishment with the strong engagement of manufacturers, leading edge researchers, State of the Art research facility and strong partnership with Academia in Ireland.
He said, “Since its inception, Irish Manufacturing Research has been committed to high-tech job growth and creation across the island whilst driving efforts, simultaneously, to secure Ireland’s future as the location-of-choice for world-leading, Advanced Manufacturing industries.” With its nearer to market translational research focus versus early stage research, it has established itself as a place where industry can engage in R&D, do business and grow. It is an environment where industry can showcase what a modern technologically advanced, highly skilled, exciting, workforce will look like both now and into the future. It puts manufacturing in pride of place within Ireland. We are excited to announce the formal opening of our new research facility which is creating 40 new, high-tech jobs over the coming months.”
ENDS
Media Contact: Valerie O’Reilly, Unicorn PR. 087-2388641
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