By Eric Culp

The Advanced Technologies in Manufacturing (ATIM) cluster, based at Ireland’s Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Athlone Campus, said it has launched the PolymerConnect initiative to address challenges facing the plastics industry in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The organiser said partners include the Northern Ireland Polymer Association (NIPA, Belfast; www.polymersni.com), Polymer Technology Ireland (PTI, Dublin; www.ibec.ie), and First Polymer Training Skillnet, (Athlone; www.firstpolymerskillnet.com), which is partially government-supported. The project is said to be seeking “to create a dynamic industry-driven directory of over 350 polymer companies, academic institutions, and key sectoral partners across the island of Ireland”.

The Irish plastics industry “is a crucial driver of innovation” in manufacturing areas such as medical, information and communications, biopharma, agri-food, automotive, construction, and aerospace, the cluster noted.

But Irish plastics processors must contend with a range of issues, the organiser warned. “The sector faces significant challenges, including regulatory pressures, supply chain disruptions, and material production and management issues. These challenges, if unaddressed, could hinder the sector’s growth, impacting both the economy and the environment.”

Plans foresee PolymerConnect collecting “vital” data from companies over the course of 13 months following the project start in July. Researchers are to use the information “to categorise and understand the economic contribution of the polymer sector across the island of Ireland.

“Using this data, the project partners will identify untapped collaboration opportunities and foster new projects, support business-to-business and business-academic partnerships, and drive innovation and competitiveness.” 

The cluster said PolymerConnect is funded by the Northern Ireland’s InterTradeIreland (Newry; www.intertradeireland.com) under the Synergy Programme, which aims to scale cross-border collaboration through cluster and network development supports to increase the impact of programmes with economic benefit to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.