The UAE is set to become home to the region’s first microfactories in an effort to boost digital manufacturing technologies.
Mubadala Development Company, the Dubai Future Foundation and GE Additive are driving the project which was revealed on the opening day of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit in Abu Dhabi.
“These microfactories are a glimpse of what the future represents, combining innovation and educational ecosystems with fast, efficient and sustainable manufacturing capabilities,” said Mohamed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister Of Cabinet Affairs and vice chairman and managing director of the Dubai Future Foundation.
Regional economies are seeking to develop more high end manufacturing to reduce their dependence on oil revenues and to create jobs for rapidly expanding populations.
The microfactories are expected to play a crucial role in using cutting edge manufacturing technology to produce specialised components. An Abu Dhabi facility is to focus on industry while another in Dubai is to deal with consumer goods and services.
Members of GE Additive’s engineering team will work closely with companies from the region across several industrial sectors, it said in a joint statement.
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