AUSTIN (KXAN) — A new high-tech manufacturing center completed construction in east Austin. The Hayes Innovation Center for Advanced Manufacturing (HICAM) is a 50,000-square-foot facility aimed at fostering modern innovation and increasing workforce development in manufacturing.
HICAM is the economic and workforce development nonprofit behind the project.
The facility will serve as a co-working space for startups, as well as a training space for an Austin Community College program.
“We really are trying to be focused on workforce development, economic development, advanced manufacturing and people that needed an industrial space.” - Marc Spier, HICAM Board Member
The facility has industrial space, machinery and dedicated areas for prototype development and testing.
HICAM Board Member Marc Spier said they welcome companies, startups, educational institutions and others who focus on advanced manufacturing.
“HICAM is a not for profit. We’re not here to make money,” Spier said. “We’re not here to extract value. We are here to be a facilitator.”
Spier said they provide people with the space, equipment and resources needed to train or develop their own technology.
“If you’ve got robotics, if you’ve got additive manufacturing, even subtractive manufacturing, drones, anything that is pushing the envelope of where technology is,” Spier said. “You need industrial space? You got to be dirty or loud or need a loading dock? We’re here for you.”
The hope is to create a hub for groundbreaking manufacturing.
“We can get like minded people into a common space to learn from each other, collaborate with each other in a way that creates something magnificent,” Spier said.
The organization announced a partnership with Austin Community College (ACC) to expand the advanced manufacturing workforce training opportunities in the region.
The ACC program is led by Dr. Laura Marmolejo, Dean for Advanced Manufacturing.
“I hope that we could do a training for anyone who may be partnering with HICAM in other ways that we could help them develop whatever skills they need to develop their prototypes and whatever projects they’re working on,” Marmolejo said.
ACC’s Engineering Development Program (EDP) will train at the location. The program provides customized training for Tesla employees.
“I would love people to realize, this is a great industry to grow into, and there’s opportunities that didn’t exist in the past,” Marmolejo said.
Software may still be the king of Austin's tech and startup ecosystem. But robotics and advanced manufacturing is quickly catching up as the city's economy diversifies with the likes of Tesla Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and more than a dozen startups developing AI-powered robots, submarines and drones.
As the sector grows, a new collaboration is emerging this year that seeks to provide easier and cheaper access to high-tech manufacturing machines, coworking space for robotics startups and accelerator programs and educational certificate programs to help people launch new careers. The new initiative will be located in East Austin, just off of the State Highway 130 corridor and a few miles north of Tesla's electric vehicle factory. It's called the Hayes Innovation Center for Advanced Manufacturing, or HICAM.
HICAM's board is led by serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist Marc Spier, and the organization will be overseen by executive director Marcus Metzger, an artist and manufacturing leader who previously led a coworking and technology center called Future Space NYC in New York.
The center, which will include space for classrooms, events and coworking, is slated for an initial reveal in late March. Initially, the center aims to drum up applications from manufacturing and robotics startups that want to be located in the space or participate in its accelerator programs. HICAM has partnered with Capital Factory to help source startups.
HICAM also plans to team with several other local organizations to help develop an advanced manufacturing ecosystem, attract new companies to Austin and produce events and podcasts. "One of the primary ways that we can help de-risk these companies is by providing them with access to sub-market rates in a tiered step down fashion as they meet their revenue goals," Metzger said. "Eventually, we want to see them leave the nest and make room for the next cohort."
One of the center's top goals is workforce development, particularly for people living in East Austin. Metzger said HICAM has an initial goal of creating 150 jobs within the center's first three years. HICAM is also currently looking for educational partners to develop certificate programs. "Part of our workforce development is aimed at helping kids from economically diverse backgrounds gain access to the idea that they can work in advanced manufacturing, the idea that they can make things with their hands and develop a trade," Metzger said.
Meanwhile, there's a million square feet of light industrial development currently being built on neighboring properties, which could provide opportunities for some startups to move on from HICAM to their own offices nearby. "I think the next 10 years is going to be just a huge boom in the American manufacturing and industrial space," he said. "So we wanted to do an initiative to be a part of that."
The Hayes Innovation Center for Advanced Manufacturing (HICAM) has announced its official grand opening, scheduled for January 23rd, 2025. Located in East Austin’s technology corridor, the state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub for startups focused on advanced manufacturing, robotics, automation, and embodied artificial intelligence.
Board Chair of HICAM Marc Spier states:
“HICAM represents a transformative step in bringing cutting-edge manufacturing back to the United States, with Texas leading the charge. The Texas Triangle is perfectly positioned to become the epicentre of advanced manufacturing innovation, and this facility will play a crucial role in that evolution.”
The seven-acre campus, featuring a 52,000-square-foot main facility at 6201 Quinn Luke Trail, offers startups the space and resources needed to develop and scale their operations. The center includes private offices, event spaces, and specialized areas for prototype development and testing.
Executive Director of HICAM Marcus Metzger adds:
“From initial announcement to opening our doors, we’ve moved at unprecedented speed – completing this world-class facility in less than a year. This rapid timeline reflects both the urgent need for advanced manufacturing infrastructure in the U.S. and the incredible support we’ve received from the Austin community. We’ve created more than just a workspace – we’ve built an ecosystem where innovation in advanced manufacturing can thrive, and we’ve done it at a pace that matches the dynamism of the industry we serve.”
The facility’s unique design, crafted by STG Design and built by Monark Builders, incorporates elements from Austin’s film production community. Steve Joyner and Jeff Poss of PJC brought their expertise in production design and museum exhibits to create a space that’s both functional and inspirational.
Lead architect at STG Design Nicolette Davis comments:
“The finished space exceeds our wildest expectations. We’ve managed to blend industrial functionality with creative aesthetics, creating an environment that truly embodies the future of manufacturing.”
Named in memory of Warren Hayes, a pioneer in modular building development, HICAM is committed to both economic and workforce development in East Austin. The center will offer:
The grand opening celebration will take place on January 23rd, 2025, from 4 pm to 7:30 p.m., featuring facility tours, guest speakers, and networking opportunities. Media representatives and community members may apply for attendance through HICAM’s website.
