A significant win for the Midlands region as a European Digital Innovation Hub, FactoryxChange, has been announced for Mullingar as part of the Digital Europe Programme. FactoryxChange is a consortium led by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Technology Centre Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) at the National Science Park in Mullingar. The Hub will focus on digital technologies in manufacturing, and will accelerate factories to become ‘Factories of the Future’ integrating ecological, digital and societal solutions into their core business models.
The European Digital Innovation Hub programme involves the establishment of a network of digital hubs across the EU to drive digital adoption in enterprise, with a particular focus on SME’s. The EU is investing €700m in establishing the network, with Ireland establishing 4 hubs under the programme, each receiving €1.9m in funding. The IMR-led consortium had been moving through the national and European approval process in gaining European Hub status for the FactoryxChange project, with the announcement representing a significant win for the Midlands region, and for the future of digital transformation in Irish manufacturing.
FactoryxChange Digital Innovation Hub
The FactoryxChange Hub will focus on driving resilience and competitiveness for industry and the manufacturing sector, representing a valuable opportunity for SMEs to digitalise and advance in the technology areas of the future. As part of the European Digital Hub Network, it is intended to be a “one-stop-shops” to help companies (notably SMEs) and public sector organisations become more competitive in their business/production processes, products or services by providing access to research infrastructure, technical expertise and experimentation in order that these organisations can “test before invest”.
As well as research/testing facilities, the Hubs also provide other innovation services, such as training and skills development necessary for a successful digital transformation.
Learn more on FactoryxChange by contacting by email info@FactoryxChange.eu
