5G in Aerospace & Manufacturing

This week, The Scotland 5G Centre in partnership with South Ayrshire Council hosted an event on the benefits of 5G for the aerospace industry.

Taking place at S5GConnect HALO Kilmarnock, our innovation hub based in Ayrshire, the event brought together more than 20 businesses and local authorities interested in learning more about 5G capabilities and possibilities.

In the aerospace industry, there are a number of challenges facing businesses such as the rising energy costs, ageing technologies, recruitment and retention of staff and a demand for more sustainable solutions. This is where 5G can transform the sector – improving business efficiency, increasing digital security and improving reliability.

Ayrshire is fast becoming one of the UK’s leading centres of Aerospace and Space activity with an Aerospace Innovation Centre and Prestwick Spaceport located within South-West Scotland and a Mangata Space Engineering Hub set to open in 2024.

At the event, Sharon Neely, S5GConnect HALO Kilmarnock’s Business Engagement Manager introduced The Scotland 5G Centre, 5G capabilities for the manufacturing industry and how we can support businesses to adopt advanced technologies.

With 54 projects currently on going, The Centre works with partners across the hub network helping businesses to develop their digital strategy and futureproof their operations, products and services.

Each hub provides free access to cutting edge 5G mobile private networks, allowing organisations to test new 5G enabled products, services, efficiency savings and innovative solutions.

Daniel Hood, Aerospace Procurement Specialist, at South Ayrshire Council highlighted the training and development opportunities available to businesses including the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme, Scottish Enterprise support services and NMIS manufacturing support and upskilling services.

Other speakers at the event included Dr Marie Macklin, Founder of the HALO Urban Regeneration Company who welcomed businesses to the HALO #RockMe trading floor, the co-working space which hosts The Centre’s Kilmarnock hub and Jonathan Errici, Eco-systems Manager at Barclays Eagle Labs who highlighted the Barclays’ Funding Readiness Programme, available within the region for manufacturing companies.

Closing the event, Dr Ahmad Taha, Lecturer and Researcher at the Communication, Sensing, & Imaging (CSI) Group, University of Glasgow showcased a demo of how robotics can be introduced into the sector, allowing businesses to remotely operate machinery.

Find out more about The Scotland 5G Centre and our innovation hubs here: https://scotland5gcentre.org/ourinnovationhubs/

Get in touch with our team for tailored, impartial advice on how to future-proof your business: https://scotland5gcentre.org/expression-of-interest/