Digital Innovation Facility (DIF) and Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC)
Sector focus: Digital and technologies
Digital Innovation Facility (DIF)
A purpose-built hub for business collaboration and innovation, DIF houses advanced laboratories in Robotics, Mixed Reality, Extreme Environments, Data Analytics, Visualisation, Simulation and Digital Engineering. Supported through a £12.7 million investment co-funded by the Local Growth Fund and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, DIF drives innovation and accelerates real-world impact across multiple sectors.
Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC)
Located within DIF, transforms research into real-world solutions. Using digital twins, virtual prototyping, high-performance computing, and advanced simulation, the VEC helps organisations across manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, energy, and FMCG to improve service quality, reduce costs, and accelerate time to market.
Delivering impact
- Drives digital transformation across complex engineering systems (aerospace, automotive, energy)
- Directly supports UK industrial strategy priorities: net zero, productivity, infrastructure
- Proven track record of partnerships delivering economic growth and innovation adoption
- Helps organisations reduce costs, improve quality, and accelerate time to market.
Decade-long regional impact
- £329M GVA added to the regional economy
- 2,500 jobs created (2015–2025)
- 161 new products and services developed.
Who it’s for
- Engineering, manufacturing, and construction partners
- Organisations using digital twins, modelling, and simulation
- Funders, leaders, and innovators across all sectors pursuing applied research and innovation.
