Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray

G&S Architecture produced a walk through video of the centre being developed.

Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray

Opening in summer 2025, the new £5.6m Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM) will build on the area's manufacturing strengths providing a hub for support and advice to companies locally and across the Highlands and Islands.

Located at Enterprise Park Forres, once completed, MICM will provide diagnostics, advice, information, signposting, access to funding, and brokerage services to manufacturing companies across the area.

Its primary focus will be on stimulating innovation and growth in product and process development, with a strong emphasis on transitioning to low carbon practices.

There will be space in the building for business start-up incubation and space for existing business to undertake innovation projects, as well as demonstration facilities showcasing advanced technology and equipment.

The centre will enable a step-change in manufacturing innovation and R&D across the Moray business base. It will also create higher paid job opportunities helping to attract and retain young people, growing the already skilled workforce across Moray.

HIE is leading the development which has the following key objectives:

To increase Business Enterprise, Research and Development (BERD) in Moray’s current manufacturing companies.
To increase growth, productivity, and efficiency in Moray’s manufacturing companies.
To increase the number of manufacturing start-ups in Moray.
To attract manufacturing inward investment to Moray.

Designed by industry for industry

MICM will focus on supporting and developing innovation in product and process development. There will be a strong emphasis on helping companies transition to low-carbon practices, contributing to net-zero targets.

The new hub and services will include:

Incubation space for start-up and young businesses.
Demonstration facilities showcasing advanced technologies and equipment.
Access to services including diagnostics, advice, funding, and networking with national programmes like the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS).
Single-entry point for businesses to access support, innovation, and low-carbon transition services.
Access to services to help businesses assess their productivity and net-zero performance.

MICM is about innovation, growth, productivity, and efficiency in Moray’s indigenous manufacturing companies and increasing the number of manufacturing start-ups in the area. It will encourage more R&D and help attract inward investment.

David Reid, Area Manager Moray, Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Manufacturing activity in Moray

With one in six jobs in Moray in manufacturing, the area punches well above its weight in terms of exporting, GDP per head and contribution to Scottish GDP.

There is a strong base of skills in manufacturing and engineering with 50 out of the 115 whisky distilleries in Scotland in Moray. The area is also home to the global headquarters of a number of household brands.

Moray is the manufacturing focus of the North Coast Space Cluster (NCSC). Orbex operates a launcher production facility at Enterprise Park Forres, designing and building the rockets. Orbex is at the centre of a new cluster of local businesses providing services and products to the growing space sector and using data for commercial purposes and academic research.

News

Related news about the Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray and the Moray Growth Deal.

Contract awarded for Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray

A £1.3m contract has been awarded for the refurbishment of a building on Enterprise Park Forres to create the new Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM).

Manufacturing Innovation Centre for Moray receives £5.6m approval

Plans to establish a new facility in Moray that is expected to support up to 300 manufacturing jobs in the next ten years have secured up to £5.6m capital investment.

£100m Moray Growth Deal - official signing

Moray Growth Deal is officially signed

Operator sought for new innovation centre

We're looking for a specialist operating company to run the new multi-million-pound Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM).

Manufacturing in Moray

Published on 21/10/2024

19

of jobs in the Moray economy in manufacturing (figure 2022)

7,000

people employed in manufacturing in Moray

39

of Moray economy GVA generated by manufacturing

50

out of the 135 whisky distilleries in Scotland based in Moray

The MICM partnership

MICM is one of eight strategic projects of the £100m Moray Growth Deal, aiming to boost economic growth and competitiveness in Moray. It's a partnership involving the UK and Scottish Governments, Moray Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NHS, and various public, private, and third-sector partners. Funding for the project includes over £4 million from UK and Scottish Governments and £2.56 million from HIE.

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