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What is the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland?

Learn more about Scotland’s dedicated space for manufacturing innovation and why it’s a major opportunity for investors. 

28 Nov | 4 minute read

The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) is a collaborative project led by Renfrewshire Council and supported by the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise.

Located in Renfrewshire and sitting on a 52-hectare site, AMIDS offers significant and flexible development opportunities for businesses within the manufacturing sector.

The site is still in the development phase (projected to be complete in 2034). But, once complete, AMIDS will be an internationally recognised centre for innovation, research, and manufacturing. 

A major investment opportunity

Scotland is well known as a competitive location for businesses, with global brands choosing to locate offices, innovation centres and manufacturing sites here. AMIDS offers all of these benefits and more.

Competitive location

AMIDS’s location provides unrivalled connectivity. From the adjacent Glasgow International Airport there are regular one-hour flights to London, with connections to more than 100 worldwide destinations. There’s also direct access to the motorway network and the site is only six miles west of Glasgow City Centre. 

Access to a highly skilled workforce

AMIDS is not only located in Scotland’s largest labour catchment, but it is also a magnet for skilled workers, attracting talented graduates from abroad and from Scotland’s own world-class institutions.

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) Manufacturing Skills Academy also provides state-of-the-art training and learning opportunities for employees at every stage of their careers.

Significant public sector investment

AMIDS has gained much support from the public sector. It is:

  • The recipient of £39 million in City Deal infrastructure funding, which supports AMIDS’s infrastructure, including key roads and bridge connections
  • Home to the £65 million National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS)
  • The location of the £9 million Lightweight Manufacturing Centre

Computer generated image of the AMIDS site.

Commitment to net zero

Net zero goals inform every level of the AMIDS development, from infrastructure to building design and transport routes to the site.

In line with this, Renfrewshire Council has committed to delivering a district heat network (DHN) at AMIDS. Compared with the use of traditional gas boilers over the next 40 years, the forecasted carbon reduction of the DHN is:

  • 9720 tonnes (a 90% reduction) for the initial phases (NMIS and MMIC)
  • 56,679 tonnes (a 92% reduction) up to phase four of development
  • 90,926 tonnes (a 93% reduction) assuming full AMIDS masterplan development

Bespoke development opportunities

At the heart of AMIDS is the 52-hectare Netherton development site, which is ready to offer plots for leasehold. Outline planning consent is in place for a mix of uses spanning high-value manufacturing.

Near to both NMIS and the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC), there are plenty of bespoke opportunities for collaboration and product development.

Internationally renowned residents

AMIDS is also home to renowned international manufacturers including Boeing, Rolls Royce, Doosan Babcock, Peak Scientific and Terumo Aortic.

Delivering tangible benefits to Scotland’s economy

The success of AMIDS will provide a major boost not only to Scotland’s manufacturing sector, but the country’s economic recovery and future prosperity. It will support the growing local, national, and global manufacturing supply chain, as well as attracting advanced manufacturing companies to locate and invest in Scotland. 

Find out more about AMIDS opportunities on Paisley.isopens in a new window 

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