This Project establishes a research platform in the area of manufacturing to facilitate and accelerate the transformation of local industry to higher value added activity. It will also undertake three research projects in areas of general interest to a number of local enterprises to demonstrate the benefits of research and innovation, thus encouraging increased industry involvement in such activities.

The project was awarded € 710 K under the European Regional Development Fund and will run until August 2012.

Aims: -
 

• Provide a detailed assessment of manufacturing research undertaken locally including sources of funding.
• Evaluate the current status of industry-academia collaboration, and propose measures to develop and enhance such collaboration;
• Assess the feasibility and advantages of attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) focusing on research activities, and to propose actions and measures required to facilitate such investment.
• Identify local and overseas case studies of how research has successfully contributed to competitive advantage and growth of manufacturing industry.