How Ideas Made Real and FactoryXChange 2.0 are introducing young people to modern manufacturing
Ideas Made Real, a programme run by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), gives primary and secondary school students hands-on experience of manufacturing, innovation and design. Through FactoryXChange 2.0 (FXC 2.0), schools across Ireland can now book three Ideas Made Real experiences: the Transition Year (TY) Programme, https://www.factoryxchange.ie/product-page/ideas-made-real-transition-year-work-experience and Future Makers Tours. Together, they help young people see manufacturing as a creative, technology-led sector with a wide range of career paths.
What is Ideas Made Real?
Ideas Made Real is IMR’s education programme, connecting classroom learning with the technologies used in industry today. Students work with tools such as 3D printers, collaborative robots, and virtual reality, while building skills in teamwork, design thinking, and problem-solving. Since joining forces with FXC 2.0, the programme has reached a growing number of schools across the country.
“So far, our partnership with FactoryXChange has been hugely positive, allowing us to connect with a diverse range of schools across the country and introduce more young people to the exciting opportunities within manufacturing”
Says Emma Treacy, Programme Coordinator for Ideas Made Real at IMR.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to challenge outdated perceptions, and watch students discover the wide range of career pathways available to them.”
What does the Ideas Made Real TY Programme include?
The Ideas Made Real TY Programme is a year-long programme for TY students and teachers in secondary schools. Student teams design a solution to a real-world problem that affects their own lives, using teamwork, collaboration, and design thinking. This year, 10 schools from Sligo to Cork are taking part. Each participating school receives:
A 3D printer to keep
Programme resources and teaching materials
A Critical Thinking with AI workshop, delivered with Examinaite
Continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers
Industry talks and a company visit
The programme finishes with a national showcase at the Explorium in Dublin on 28 April 2027, where teams present their ideas and prototypes. At this year’s national finale in March, 200 students presented prototypes, posters and 3D-printed components.
What happens during TY Work Experience at IMR?
TY Work Experience gives students a hands-on week at IMR in Mullingar, working alongside the technologies and people shaping modern manufacturing. During the week, students programme a collaborative robot, code with micro bits, try 3D printing, create extended reality (XR) demos and hear directly from engineers working in industry. Most recently, TY students from Castle pollard joined the team for work experience through the STEM Passport for Inclusion programme.
What is a Future Makers Tour?
A Future Makers Tour is a hands-on introduction to manufacturing, innovation and design for primary and secondary school students. Groups take part in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) activity, then tour IMR’s facility in Mullingar to see robotics, 3D printing and virtual reality in action. Students have plenty of opportunities to ask questions along the way. During Space Week, pupils from Mullingar Educate Together National School built and launched their own fizz rockets before touring the facility.
How can schools book Ideas Made Real through FXC 2.0?
All three experiences are booked through FactoryXChange 2.0, with slightly different steps for each. Future Makers Tours can be booked online in two steps:
Complete a Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA) access pass, which is required for safety and visitor tracking. Go to the Strategy page, scroll to the bottom and select the Digital Maturity Assessment, then create an account and complete the booking.
Once the DMA is submitted, book your visit on the Future Makers Tour page.
For the TY Programme and TY Work Experience, schools and businesses interested in taking part should first contact Emma Treacy at emma.treacy@imr.ie. Emma will talk through the details before moving on to booking through FXC 2.0.
Frequently asked questions
Who can take part in Ideas Made Real?
The TY Programme and TY Work Experience are designed for Transition Year students and their teachers in secondary schools. Future Makers Tours are open to both primary and secondary school groups. Businesses interested in supporting the programmes can also get in touch with Emma Treacy at IMR.
Where do Ideas Made Real activities take place?
TY Work Experience and Future Makers Tours take place at IMR in Mullingar, County Westmeath. The TY Programme runs in participating schools throughout the year and finishes with a national showcase at the Explorium in Dublin.
Why does a school need a Digital Maturity Assessment to book a tour?
The DMA booking works as an access pass for Future Makers Tours. The Digital Maturity Assessment (DMA) is a short expert guided evaluation that measures your organisation’s digital maturity, identifies strengths and improvement opportunities, and provides a personalised digital roadmap and access to relevant FXC services to support your digital transformation journey.
What is FactoryXChange 2.0?
FactoryXChange 2.0 is a European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) that helps Irish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopt digital technologies through funded services, expert guidance and a national network of partners. It is led by IMR and supported by the European Commission and Enterprise Ireland. You can find answers to more common questions on our FAQ page.
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