A new £20 million initiative, designed to embed advanced digital technology across the North West’s manufacturing sector to boost productivity was officially launched in Liverpool as part of Digital Manufacturing Week on the 14th November.
Backed by national Government and some of the world’s biggest businesses, the Made Smarter North West programme is set to engage with 3000 SME manufacturers.
Made Smarter will be delivered locally by the Liverpool City Region Growth Hub which is managed by the LEP.
Local companies which get involved in the project will get the chance to access match funded support and advice regarding how industrial digital technologies (IDT), including robotics, artificial intelligence, 3D printing and the Internet of Things (IoT), could revolutionise their manufacturing processes.
A number of firms based in the Liverpool City Region will also qualify for more intensive business support, gaining access to match-funded grants, bespoke consultancy, mentoring and other resources which will help them to accelerate commercial growth.
It is anticipated that by becoming a test-bed for new types of technologies and advanced processes, the region’s manufacturing sector could generate a 25% increase in productivity and add £115m to the North West economy.
Embracing the principles of Made Smarter could also help to open up new markets, increase exports and create hundreds of additional high-skilled, high-value jobs across the Liverpool City Region.
This follows an announcement in the recent budget that up to £121 million of additional Made Smarter programme funding would be made available across the country as part of government’s £1.1 billion Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.
As well providing significant funding to underpin the Made Smarter concept, government has also worked closely with industry to drive the programme.
Local manufacturers who would like to register their interest in taking part in Made Smarter North West should visit www.localgrowthhub.com
For more information on the Made Smarter programme visit www.madesmarter.uk
