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Construction is progressing on the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) in County Antrim, a key project within the £930million Belfast Region City Deal.
Located at Global Point in Newtownabbey, the facility is being delivered in partnership with Queen's University Belfast, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, and Ulster University.
The 10,500m² facility will provide advanced manufacturing and engineering businesses with access to the latest technology, equipment, and expertise. Once complete, AMIC will serve as a central hub for innovation in manufacturing across Northern Ireland.
Finance Minister John O'Dowd visited the site to view construction progress. He said: "I was pleased to visit the site of the AMIC and hear first-hand how it will help deliver economic growth and social benefits once completed.
"This centre is a key part of the Belfast Region City Deal and will be a state-of-the-art research and innovation facility that will serve as a hub for advanced manufacturing technologies. It is exactly the kind of forward-thinking facility we need, supporting productivity and long-term growth.
"It will have a positive impact on local communities through new jobs, an increased skills base and its support of local businesses. City and Growth Deals are built on partnership, shared goals and commitment and this innovation centre is an excellent example of that."
Meanwhile, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald added: "AMIC's 'Factory of the Future' is a £98million investment that will transform local manufacturing. It will create 1,500 new jobs, train hundreds of apprentices and inject millions into the local economy.
"AMIC gives manufacturers access to cutting-edge tech, from robotics to sustainable materials, helping businesses boost their productivity and global competitiveness. Both of which are central to my Economic Vision and the long-term economic development of the north."
AMIC, alongside two other Queen's-led innovation centres – Momentum One Zero and iREACH Health – forms part of a £230million programme designed to generate long-term economic and social value for Northern Ireland and beyond.
