New business facility opens at TUS campus in Limerick

A NEW business facility has opened on campus at Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) in Moylish in Limerick city.

The Smarter Factory Technology Gateway (SFT) has been made possible thanks to an investment of €1.8m in TUS.

The SFT Gateway is poised to support Irish companies in navigating and embracing the challenges faced by the digital landscape.

The gateway aims to capitalise on the region's specialisations, particularly in advanced manufacturing, operational technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality.

These efforts will lead to tangible improvements in real-time systems, energy efficiency, and operational efficacy, it is hoped.
SFT staff will serve as a link between industry and academia.

Researchers in TUS will aim to bridge the gap between students, academia and enterprise.

The information they discover, it’s hoped, will empower business and protect them against digital threats and challenges in real-time.

Smarter Factory Gateway manager Jim O’Hagan said: “The gateway seeks to enhance the products, operations, efficiencies, and digital transformation of Irish manufacturing businesses through innovative research projects, funded by Enterprise Ireland grants.

"Through our collaborative approach, we are poised as an enabler for innovation and will be pivotal in helping Irish companies meet the evolving demands of customers, as they develop sustained growth and competitiveness.”

SFT is initially located at the TUS campus in Moylish, but it’s anticipated it will move to the new Coonagh Cross campus once that site is ready to open.

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Marina Donohoe, head of research and innovation at 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.”

The Smarter Factory Technology Gateway is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through its regional development funding.