The Industrial Digitalisation and Automation Collaboration (IDAIC) is a UK-wide initiative uniting some of the country’s most forward-thinking organisations in manufacturing, research, and technology. Its mission is clear: accelerate industrial innovation, improve efficiency, and enable the transition towards sustainable, digitally enabled production.

In an era marked by global competition, resource limitations, and the urgent need to decarbonise, IDAIC offers a platform where expertise is exchanged, technology is co-created, and new solutions are swiftly implemented. For companies like i3D, it serves not only as a forum for collaboration but also as a launchpad for transformative change across the UK’s most vital industries.

The Coalition’s Goals – Innovation, Collaboration, and Industrial Impact

IDAIC’s purpose is to bridge the gap between research excellence and industrial application. The coalition’s members span advanced materials, heavy industry, automation, and digital technology, working collectively to:

• Accelerate industrial digitalisation: Implement AI-driven inspection, robotics, and advanced manufacturing techniques to modernise legacy processes.
• Boost efficiency and competitiveness: Reduce waste, minimise downtime, and lower costs through smarter, automated operations.
• Support sustainability and net-zero targets: Reduce emissions and enhance resource efficiency across energy-intensive sectors such as steel, ceramics, and glass.
• Create a connected industrial ecosystem: Promote collaboration among manufacturers, technology providers, and research institutions to reduce risk in innovation and accelerate widespread adoption and implementation.

By aligning these goals, IDIAC is creating a framework for industrial growth that is both commercially viable and environmentally responsible.

Technology That Delivers Results

As a leader in stereo vision and robotic inspection technologies, i3D plays a vital role within IDAIC. Our expertise in real-time 3D imaging, AI-based defect detection, and automated quality control directly supports the coalition’s mission to digitise and decarbonise heavy industry.

One example of this is our leadership of the Innovate-UK-funded IRIFIO project (Intelligent Robotic Inspection for Foundation Industry Optimisation). By combining 3D stereo vision with machine learning, IRIFIO is transforming defect detection in glass, ceramics, and metal casting. This technology not only improves accuracy and speed but also reduces energy-intensive rework and waste.

While IRIFIO showcases what’s achievable in a single project, our involvement in IDAIC enables us to expand these capabilities to new partners and sectors, amplifying their impact across the UK’s foundation industries.

Unlocking Industrial Synergies

One of IDAIC’s greatest strengths is the opportunity it offers for strategic partnerships. For example, Tata Steel: With its scale and focus on process optimisation, Tata Steel provides a testing ground for deploying automated inspection and defect-detection technologies at an industrial level, enhancing quality while reducing waste and emissions. i3D has previously collaborated with Tata Steel to detect defects on sheet metal and within ladles.

The Materials Processing Institute (MPI) is a key player in materials innovation and industrial R&D. It possesses the research expertise necessary to develop and validate i3D’s and other coalition members’ technologies for wider applications in metals and advanced materials.

Specialising in high-performance ceramics and composites, Morgan Advanced Materials’ focus aligns with i3D’s capability to provide precise inspection in demanding, high-value manufacturing environments.

By fostering collaboration among coalition organisations, members can support the co-creation of solutions that are both commercially viable and industry-changing. Simultaneously, partners gain access to proven inspection technologies that speed up their own digital transformation journeys.

What’s Next For The IDIAC Coalition?

As the coalition drives forward, it will continue to:

• Scale our technologies across multiple foundation industries.
• Show measurable reductions in waste, costs, and carbon emissions.
• Forge lasting commercial partnerships that take innovation from pilot projects to production lines.

By aligning our roadmap with IDIAC’s goals, we are not just supporting industrial digitalisation; we are helping shape the future of sustainable manufacturing in the UK and beyond.

A Greener Future

IDAIC exemplifies how collaboration fosters progress. For i3D robotics, it serves as the perfect platform to merge our advanced inspection technologies with the expertise of industrial and research partners who share our vision for a brighter, greener future.

As the coalition grows, we invite potential partners across the foundation industries to join us in this mission. Together, we can unlock new efficiencies, reduce environmental impact, and ensure that UK manufacturing remains at the forefront of global innovation.

Industrial transformation isn’t a distant goal; it’s happening now. With IDAIC, i3D robotics is helping to lead the way.