High-tech advanced manufacturing center setting up in east Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) --- A new high-tech manufacturing center broke ground in east Austin. The Hayes Innovation Center for Advanced Manufacturing (HICAM) will be a 50,000-square-foot facility dedicated to fostering modern innovation and increasing workforce development in manufacturing.

HICAM is the economic and workforce development nonprofit behind the project.

Goals for the center include:

• Creating a hub for groundbreaking manufacturing
• Fostering economic growth
• Building a skilled workforce

The facility will serve as a co-working space for startups. HICAM Executive Director Marcus Metzger said they'll provide companies with the equipment to develop their technology in its early stages.

"I want people to come through, be inspired and leave knowing more than they did before, and with a brighter outlook on what they can do."

Marcus Metzger, HICAM Executive Director

What kind of startups?

Metzger said they'll welcome startups working in robotics, machine learning, next-generation additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence.

"This isn't just like chat bots," Metzger said. "These are AI systems that can control your production floor and can give you reliable feedback."

HICAM partnered with downtown co-working space, Capital Factory, to help find those startups. Capital Factory Founder Joshua Baer said its more important now than ever to produce these technologies locally.

"What's happening with HICAM is so critical right now, because it's helping to bring manufacturing and really high tech manufacturing here to the U.S. and here to Texas," Baer said.

Workforce development

Another focus for the center is workforce development.

"Our first goal is to create 150 new advanced manufacturing jobs in the east Austin area," Metzger said.

It'll offer an educational program where students can learn how to operate robots and 3D printing, among other things.

"Our other goal is to provide workforce training for 1,000 people over the next three years," Metzger said. "It's our goal to run certifications so you can come here and know nothing about robots, and over the course of eight weeks, gain the skills so that you can become an entry-level operator."

The center plans on opening up at the beginning of 2025. Later this year, it will open applications for manufacturing and robotics startups that want to be located in the space or participate in its accelerator program.