New research centre boosts Mullingar's profile

The recent opening of an advanced manufacturing research centre in Mullingar has made the town more attractive to foreign direct investment, according to Mullingar Chamber’s Tom Hyland.

The independent not for profit research organisation Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) recently moved into a new centre in Lough Sheever Industrial Park. According to IMR’s website, the organisation works with academic, government and industry partners with the intention of making Ireland a world leader in advanced manufacturing operations such as 3D printing. IMR currently has three full-time staff working at the centre.

Speaking at the recent meeting of the council’s Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Special Policy Committee (SPC), Mr Hyland said the chamber had “canvassed” IMR to come to Mullingar and that the organisation has already began research for 10 companies, five of which are locally based.

He also revealed that IMR is in discussions with a number of third level institutions on research links and that there is already one PHD student from UCD based in the Mullingar centre.

The council has earmarked €25,000 from its €60,000 Business Promotion Fund to fund the rental of the new research premises. Praising the council for its financial support, without which the centre would have been unable to open, Mr Hyland said that while the IMR facility is a “fledgling initiative”, the intent is for it to grow to become the “de-facto” national research centre.

Mr Hyland told the members of the SPC that the centre will be a major advantage to Mullingar in its attempts to attract manufacturing companies.

The chairman of the SPC, Cllr John Shaw, was one of a number of members who praised the chamber for its role in the establishment of the centre. “It’s great to see progress being made,” he said. “It puts Mullingar in a great position (to attract investment) and it’s very important that the council support it.”

Council official Barry Kehoe said that while €25,000 is a significant amount of money, the new centre has the potential to contribute to the industrial development of Mullingar.