The University of Strathclyde has welcomed the start of work on a new manufacturing district in Renfrewshire which will create thousands of new jobs for the sector.
The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) will be based next to Glasgow Airport and is expected to put Renfrewshire at the heart of Scotland’s manufacturing industry, estimated to create up to 6,000 jobs and boost Scotland’s manufacturing sector by £535million in GVA a year.
Renfrewshire Council is leading the district’s development in partnership with Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise.
New technologies
A 52-hectare campus at the heart of the district will house companies harnessing new technologies and accessing cutting edge research. With 1.6million square feet of available floor space, the site is already confirmed as the location for the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre.
Work has now started on constructing the enabling infrastructure, which includes new roads, bridges, cycling routes and pedestrian walkways, funded through the ÂŁ1.13 billion Glasgow City Region City Deal, jointly funded by the UK and Scottish governments.
Derek Mackay, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work joined Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron, Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Steve Dunlop and local Inchinnan Primary School pupils at the official groundbreaking.
Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work, Derek Mackay said: “I am delighted to celebrate work starting on the new Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS).
“Building on our rich and diverse manufacturing heritage, this development will help Scotland develop the clean, green, technologically-advanced industries of the future. The first tenants of this new district will be the Scottish Government’s £65 million National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and the £56 million Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre which will both provide an attractive proposition for further inward investment.
“Manufacturing is vitally important to the Scottish economy and AMIDS, and the companies it will attract, will help realise our ambitions for Scotland to become a global leader in advanced manufacturing.”
Important role
Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of Strathclyde, which is the anchor university of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and research partner in the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, said: “The University of Strathclyde is proud and excited to play a key role in the development of Scotland’s burgeoning manufacturing industry.
“The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland will play a hugely important role in attracting investment in research and development in the manufacturing sector and in developing and sustaining the skills required by industry.
At Strathclyde we’re incredibly proud of the highly-successful model we’ve developed for working with business, industry, academia and the public sector to make a positive impact on society and drive economic growth.”
“This is a pan-Scotland activity and we are enthusiastically involving universities from across the country to bring engineering and technology expertise to bear in achieving the enormous potential of AMIDS.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland Colin Clark said: “I want to see the Glasgow City Region thrive as a powerhouse of economic growth. It’s vital that we invest in the skills, industries and infrastructure that will help businesses create high-paying jobs for the future.
Submitted on 29/08/2019
