The new Smarter Factory Technology Gateway (SFT) launched today (April 4, 2024) at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Moylish Campus, is already providing an investment of €1.8 million in the Mid West and paving the way for enhanced enterprise and business security.
The SFT is poised to support Irish companies in navigating and embracing the challenges faced by the digital landscape.
Serving as a vital conduit between industry and academia, namely TUS, the SFT will forge collaborative ties with cutting-edge research institutions, bridging the gap between students, academia and enterprise. The data furnished by the gateway will empower businesses, fortifying them against digital threats and challenges in real-time, fostering smarter and more integrated operations.
As technology continues to advance and digitalisation takes centre stage, the gateway aims to capitalise on the region’s smart specialisations, particularly in advanced manufacturing, ICT, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality. These efforts will lead to tangible improvements in real-time systems, energy efficiency, and operational efficacy.
Smarter Factory Technology Gateway Manager at TUS, Jim O’Hagan, remarked, “Our gateway will enhance the products, operations, efficiencies, and digital transformation of Irish manufacturing businesses through innovative research projects, funded by Enterprise Ireland grants. Through our advanced approach, we are poised as a catalyst for innovation and will be pivotal in meeting the evolving demands of customers, positioning companies for sustained growth and competitiveness.”
Explaining that the SFT will accelerate the development of future talent and innovation the region Marina Donohoe, Head of Research and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland said, “New insights from smarter data will deliver many benefits for Irish businesses, such as improved quality, increased capacity, cost reductions and more sustainable operations. This important initiative will also lead to impactful innovation and will support businesses on their sustainable and digital journeys, to support innovative enterprises as they navigate the increasingly diverse and evolving digital landscape, and shape the future of manufacturing.”
Businesses can readily engage with the gateway through initiatives such as the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher schemes or funded research programmes.
The SFT stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of Industry 4.0 and 5.0, spearheading digital and sustainable transformations to bolster innovative enterprises and shape the future landscape of manufacturing.
The Smarter Factory Technology Gateway is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midlands Regional Programme 2021-27