This new iconic facility will bring together the strengths of academia and the private sector and act as a catalyst in the advanced manufacturing sector for the research, design and manufacture of new products and processes at a regional level and beyond. The facility will be the first of its kind on the island of Ireland and will be developed in partnership with the private sector working in this field. It will provide a hub for innovation, bringing together academia and business to transform both processes and products for future markets.
In recognition of its economic significance to the Borough, the Council is contributing £10 million to the scheme and will be working closely with the local and regional supply chain businesses to ensure that they can both contribute to and benefit from AMIC and boost the local economy. It is anticipated that up to 1,500 jobs will be created over the life of the project.
AMIC will be located at Global Point, Antrim and Newtownabbey’s premier business location. RLC already operates successfully on the site, and is soon to be joined by Sensata Technologies who are advancing the development of their new state of the art Research & Design Headquarters representing an investment of £16.5 million. The Sensata project will take approximately 2 years to complete and will accommodate 450-500 employees.
Ardagh Metal Packaging has also recently announced their decision to locate a new 58,000 square metre, can manufacturing plant at Global with an investment of 200 million dollars.
These exceptional investments demonstrate Antrim and Newtownabbey’s track record as a strategic investment location and will serve to create a world class cluster for Advanced Manufacturing. The Council is delighted to have secured these investments working in partnership with Queens University, Invest NI and our private sector partners.
It is important that our residents can access the wide range of training and employment opportunities which will be generated through AMIC and the other City Deal projects. The Council will therefore work with its partners to promote Employability and Skills Interventions and Digital Advancements. Through these activities it is anticipated that 20,000 new jobs will be created across the region which are required to drive our economy forward. The programmes supported will seek to help both those entering the workforce and people who wish to upskill or reskill to benefit from job opportunities.
The Digital element of the City Deal will help the region to keep pace with technological and societal change and indeed get ahead of these changes by maximising the opportunities for the region to be distinct and competitive. Future opportunities will include the establishment of regional Innovation Hubs and Challenge Funds which the Council will seek to secure for the Borough.
The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Billy Webb welcomed the City Deal signing saying;
“The City Deal is a major boost to the economic prospects of Antrim and Newtownabbey and indeed the wider region. It will be a key component of the Council’s future growth plans for the Borough and a key milestone for all the partners involved.
Cllr Webb continued;
“The success of the iconic AMIC project and other elements that the Council will be involved in are critically important to our residents because of the jobs and training opportunities that they generate for residents and for our businesses through the local supply chain.”