Elly Yates-Roberts |
Management consulting firm Accenture has opened an innovation hub in Detroit in Michigan, US to help companies in the automotive, industrial equipment, technology, energy and utilities industries develop digital products and services.
Based in Detroit’s metropolitan area, the facility will help businesses to develop their engineering, manufacturing and field operations and digitise their enterprises. This is expected to add 200 highly skilled technology jobs to the local market by the end of 2020.
“We welcome Accenture’s decision to expand its commitments in the Detroit area and appreciate the highly skilled opportunities the company is creating for our talented workforce,” said Rick Snyder, governor of Michigan. “Accenture’s investment is a testament to Michigan’s history of innovation and our growing talent base.”
Innovation hub users will also have access to a new Industry X.0 Innovation Centre in Livonia, Michigan. Here, they can share ideas, create, test and scale digital solutions that improve product development, engineering, manufacturing, customer experience and cybersecurity. “Continuous innovation is an imperative to succeed in today’s digital economy,” said Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture North America. “In metro Detroit we are bringing innovation to our clients’ doorsteps to help them achieve tangible, ground-breaking results faster than ever. Our investment in innovation is an investment in our clients, our people and the communities in which we work and live.”
The hub is Accenture’s newest US innovation hub and the eighth in a network that includes Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, Houston, New York, San Jose and California. In addition to opening the innovation hub, Accenture will also expand its metro Detroit apprenticeship programme in partnership with Grand Circus, an organisation that is helping develop Michigan’s technology workforce.
“Manufacturing companies across all industries are under tremendous pressure to reinvent and digitise their businesses,” said Brian Irwin, who leads Accenture’s industrial practice in North America. “Our new innovation hub in metro Detroit complements our other Industry X.0 Innovation Centres, including those in Garching, Germany and Modena, Italy, that have a strong focus on automotive. We are bringing our global experience and expertise to clients in North America who are exploring the impact of Industry X.0.”