SMART MANUFACTURING
Limerick’s Digital District and at the
gates of Limerick city. Confirm is an
SFI-Industry funded centre for
Cyber-Physical Manufacturing systems
and digital supply chain research.
Confirm is essentially about helping
industry make the right manufacturing
decisions by developing new
technologies based on fundamental
manufacturing science principles,
thus leading to major
economic, societal and
environmental impact.
“Confirm HQ is
designed around this
theme, and we
brought together the
best elements of both
national and
international
manufacturing centres
of excellence to result in a
truly world-class research
facility to support Ireland in its
journey to become a leading digital
manufacturing powerhouse globally.
“Confirm HQ houses the i4
Experience, a full 3D immersive
Industry 4.0 museum, and a private 5G
internal network, both the first in
Ireland. It hosts major industry and
academic partners to carry out research
in digital manufacturing production
tools, including a major robotics suite;
it hosts our community of practice area,
a 100- seater venue designed to bring
the public, industry and academia
together to help encourage more young
people and women into this exciting
and, given it is Ireland’s second largest
employer, important field.
“Finally, and most importantly, it
hosts over 70 researchers and research
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secured €47 million in research from
industry, government and from
non-exchequer sources. Confirm works
collaboratively with industry to pioneer
research excellence to meet current
and future smart manufacturing needs.
Confirm gives industry partners a
competitive advantage by ensuring the
right research team is working to drive
business readiness for Industry 4.0.
Confirm has experience working across
MNC and SMEs within diverse sectors,
including, Pharmaceuticals, Medical
Devices, Chemical, Nutrition &
Beverage, Computer, Electronic,
Optical, and Electrical equipment.
The Confirm Centre hosts 130
researchers, 12 operational and
management staff with a number of
additional positions available in the
coming months. The new facility
includes a large test-bed to house
Ireland’s future factory demonstrators,
an 8 metre diameter Virtual Reality
Cave, a 10Gbyte internet access, the
first 5G Digital Manufacturing Network
in Ireland, and a Digital Manufacturing
lab to include 3D printing and noncontact
3D part scanning. This facility
will be the centrepiece of Confirm’s
research network and through a
dedicated Community of Practice area
– will link our researchers, industry
partners and the general public
together to raise the profile of
manufacturing in Ireland and
Internationally.
Congratulating the Centre on the
opening of its new facilities Minister for
Further and Higher Education, Research,
Innovation and Science, Simon Harris,
TD said: “The opening of the Confirm
SFI Research Centre’s new digital HQ
provides an important hub for digital
and smart manufacturing in Ireland,
which will support the transformation of
industry through excellent research,
providing for our future skills needs in
this important sector and enabling the
general public to see the future of
manufacturing. The Centre extends far
beyond it’s fantastic new facility through
its partnership across the higher
education institutions and its
significant industry and
international
collaborations. I wish
the Centre every
success in the future. ”
Speaking at the
virtual launch,
Professor Mark
Ferguson, Director
General of Science
Foundation Ireland said:
“I’m delighted to participate
in today’s virtual launch of the
bespoke digital manufacturing facility at
University of Limerick which provides
the headquarters for the Confirm SFI
Research Centre. This facility will
provide the hub for delivering excellent
research, developing future talent
through vital training, and supporting
industry by providing access to
expertise in the area of smart and
digital manufacturing. I congratulate
everyone involved at the University of
Limerick in establishing this critical
national facility.”
Director of Confirm Professor Conor
McCarthy said: “I’m delighted to open
Confirm Centre Headquarters today at
our virtual launch. Confirm HQ is our
brand-new digital manufacturing
research facility located at University of
The Confirm Centre
hosts 130 researchers,
12 operational and
management staff with
a number of additional
positions becoming
available
The centre was opened in
a virtual ceremony
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