Smart Nano NI is a Northern Ireland consortium collaborating to develop game-changing advanced prototyping and smart manufacturing methods to deliver new technologies. The consortium shares a niche capability around nano manufacturing and world-leading knowledge in photonics and aims to support innovation-led economic growth, both in the area and nationally, as well as enhancing local research and innovation collaborations. The consortium has been awarded £42.4m UK Research and Innovation’s Strength in Places Fund. The total project value including leveraged funding from other sources is £63.9m. Our collaboration is aimed at driving self-sustaining local industry and economic growth through research and innovation.
The collaboration is led by Seagate Technology, a world leader in data storage and management solutions. Its facility in NI is recognised as one of the foremost 200mm wafer fabrication plant in the world and brings together leading organisations from across Northern Ireland:
- Analytics Engines – leader in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning,
- Causeway Sensors – photonic therapeutic device specialists
- Cirdan – leading provider of medical informatics and imaging solutions
- Digital Catapult – a deep tech innovation organisation
- North West Regional College – a national award-winning Business Support Centre for skills development, R&D and innovation
- Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) – leads the Centre of Doctoral Training in Integrated Photonics and Advanced Data Storage
- Ulster University – the Intelligent Systems Research Centre (ISRC) is an established Centre of Excellence in Intelligent Systems specialising in artificial intelligence (AI).
- Yelo – photonics test equipment vendor.