3 min read - 7 Oct, 2026
Queen’s University opens £100m ‘factory of the future’
Queen’s University Belfast has officially opened the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), an almost £100m investment through the Belfast Region City Deal supporting innovation, growth and the future of manufacturing in Northern Ireland.
The centre is expected to create up to 1,500 jobs across Northern Ireland, contribute £1.3bn to the economy and support the training of 300 apprentices by 2050.
Located at Global Point in Newtownabbey, AMIC has been operational since April 2026 and was officially opened on Tuesday (6 Oct) by government officials, including Minister for Northern Ireland Sarah Owen MP, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, and Minister for the Economy Dr Caoimhe Archibald.
AMIC has been designed for industry and in response to the needs of the burgeoning advanced manufacturing sector in Northern Ireland, with businesses and industry partners helping to shape its capabilities. In its first six months, the AMIC team has welcomed companies from across the region and beyond, providing them with access to cutting-edge facilities, specialist engineering expertise and collaboration opportunities.
Queen’s University Belfast officially launches the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, backed by a nearly £100m investment / Picture: AMIC
AMIC’s engineering team supports businesses to explore and adopt technologies that may not otherwise be available to them in-house, helping them address future technology, skills and sustainability challenges.
Engineers are already deploying technologies including robotics and automation, advanced materials, digital twins, artificial intelligence, advanced metrology and machining to improve productivity, efficiency and industry competitiveness.
Major projects currently underway include the £9.5m Project 4WARD, which focuses on advancing welding automation in partnership with Hyster-Yale, Terex, 4DNI, Nugent Trailers and Datum Tool Design, with support from Invest NI.
Alongside digitalisation and automation, AMIC is tackling some of the biggest challenges facing manufacturers – from energy efficiency and renewable energy to circularity and resource use. By developing and applying these technologies, its work is helping businesses move towards a more productive, competitive and low-carbon future.
Key government officials and Queen’s University leadership gather to mark the official opening / Picture: AMIC
Professor Sir Ian Greer, president and vice-chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, said: “Universities have an important role to play in supporting local businesses to innovate and adapt, and by bringing together academic expertise and industry experience, AMIC enables us to work directly with manufacturers to address real-world challenges. This close collaboration is central to how Queen’s contributes to Northern Ireland’s future and is a key component of the Belfast Region City Deal programme of investment.
“Alongside our other two transformational Queen’s-led Belfast Region City Deal innovation centres, Momentum One Zero and iREACH Health, AMIC will help deliver lasting economic and social benefits for people across this region and beyond.”
The work of AMIC builds on more than 55 years of Queen’s delivering industry-focused innovation through the Northern Ireland Technology Centre (NITC), Polymers Processing Research Centre (PPRC) and Northern Ireland Advanced Composites and Engineering Centre (NIACE).
The newly opened centre at Global Point in Newtownabbey is set to boost Northern Ireland’s economy by £1.3bn and support 1,500 jobs by 2050 / Picture: AMIC
Speaking about the impact on industries in Northern Ireland and beyond, John Irwin, chair of AMIC’s Industry Board, added: “AMIC’s strength is the partnership it supports between industry and academia, providing a world-class research facility, equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, staffed with highly experienced people, and critically, shaped by real manufacturing needs.
“It provides capabilities that were previously not readily available in Northern Ireland, enabling companies to test and validate innovations before investing, reducing risk, accelerating growth, and strengthening the competitiveness of Northern Ireland manufacturers. AMIC has listened and is now delivering.”
The centre forms part of a wider £230m transformational programme led by Queen’s, supported by the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive. The nearly £100m investment in AMIC includes around £78m from the UK Government, £10m from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, £8m from Queen’s University Belfast, and £1.3m from Ulster University.
