Vince Cable visits Northern Ireland companies
Dr. Cable focused on the importance of advanced manufacturing during his first visit as business secretary.
Vince Cable officially opened a flagship research facility in East Belfast - .
NIACE has received 拢2.7m in funding from BIS. It will bring together leading academics and companies to develop new technologies for the design and manufacture of high-quality composite products.
Mr Cable also visited Andor Technology, aircraft manufacturer Bombardier and shipbuilder Harland and Wolff.
Ahead of the visit he said:
鈥淪ome people say the UK doesn鈥檛 make anything any more. Yet the companies I鈥檓 visiting in Belfast show this couldn鈥檛 be further from the truth. We are one of the world鈥檚 biggest manufacturers and a leading exporter of technology intensive products and services.
鈥溁使谔逵齛pp opening of NIACE is welcome as it demonstrates our ideas and innovations are being turned into new products and jobs.
鈥淭his centre will work with universities and businesses based in Northern Ireland and across the UK, to develop and commercialise new technologies.鈥�
Advanced Manufacturing in Northern Ireland
First stop for the Business Secretary was , where he toured the production floor to see engineers working on high-spec cameras used for innovative medical and research purposes.
He then visited new CSeries wing factory, where the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive is investing a total of 拢135m. He then went on to meet apprentices and school children from the company鈥檚 Educational Outreach, and see the wing test facility in operation.
His final visit was at shipping firm where he toured the site.
Hugo Swire, Minister for Northern Ireland, who accompanied the Business Secretary, said;
鈥淭his is a good day for Northern Ireland, we now have a centre of excellence to support our advanced manufacturing industry. NIACE will turn innovation into new technology which will give us the competitive edge we need in a global market.
鈥溁使谔逵齛pp companies we have visited today demonstrate that In Northern Ireland we have the capability to offer premium specialist services that the world wants.鈥�