Situated on Netherton Campus at the centre of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS), the new facility is set to transform manufacturing in Scotland.

Renfrewshire Council’s planning authority gave the green light to plans for the brand new energy carbon neutral building, which comes complete with a distinctive heather coloured façade.

At around 1.5 times the size of Hampden football pitch, the facility will include a skills academy, a fully digitalised factory of the future and a collaboration hub. The new facility will help support manufacturing and engineering firms of all sizes and from all sectors across the country, and internationally, to innovate and grow their businesses.

NMIS is a group of industry-led manufacturing research and development facilities where industry, academia and the public sector work together on ground-breaking manufacturing research to transform productivity levels, make companies more competitive and boost the skills of our current and future workforce.

It is operated by the University of Strathclyde and supported by the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Funding Council and Renfrewshire Council. 

Economy secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Securing planning permission is a significant milestone for NMIS. It paves the way to start construction of the new facilities which will deliver the research, support and skills to help manufacturers unlock opportunities in emerging digital technologies and processes.

“NMIS will be an international centre of expertise where research, industry and the public sector will work together to make Scotland a global leader in advanced manufacturing and attract investment.”

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, said: “This is a major step in the journey towards revitalising our industrial base and in re-establishing Scotland’s international reputation for manufacturing excellence.

“The University of Strathclyde is proud to be the anchor university for NMIS and we look forward to working with industry partners to bring our world-class expertise and research to support skills development and economic growth.”

Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “This is an important milestone in the development of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and I’m delighted that NMIS is being built in Renfrewshire, recognising the rich manufacturing heritage of the region and the continued contribution we make, generating more than £1billion in exports and employing more than 9000 people.

“Work is well underway on development of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) and NMIS will play a key role in its success, attracting manufacturers to locate here, collaborate and tap into the latest technologies and cutting-edge research.”

The new facility, along with the NMIS specialist technology centres: Lightweight Manufacturing Centre and Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre; the only High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre in Scotland, are key facilities in the manufacturing innovation district being developed next to Glasgow Airport, with Netherton Campus also home to the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre.

Construction is well underway on the district’s enabling infrastructure, funded through the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

Ross Barrett, associate at Glasgow-based HLM Architects, and lead on the NMIS design team, said: “This new facility will provide an inspiring and supportive environment for manufacturing firms in Scotland to thrive. It not only offers a variety of different spaces and environments for learning, collaboration and innovation, but is also a landmark in its architecture and an exemplar in carbon neutral design.”