“As an engineering and manufacturing business, we are acutely aware of the need to continually create efficiencies through new technologies and processes, in order to be competitive. Being a part of the IDEAM Cluster exposes us to the incoming trends and best practices being used internationally, as well as connecting in with other likeminded companies. IDEAM can help to expose best practices being used, emerging trends and knowledge share from other manufacturing companies. It is clearly something heavily leveraged in other countries and the benefits have been proven in terms of GDP creation. IDEAM will be a great benefit to SME’s looking to stay competitive in a rapidly changing technological and digital environment. The cluster can be an excellent resource for SME’s who because of size are always playing the balancing act of keeping up with trends to remain competitive but not utilising new technologies or digitisation that isn’t going to bring real value. Additionally, the knowledge share aspect between companies could be very beneficial for SME’s who may not have a CTO that would be present in larger organisations".