By Jasmin Jessen

April 18, 2026

Google.org is supporting the Manufacturing Institute with US$10m. Credit: Unsplash

The top Manufacturing stories this week include Google's funding for manufacturing AI training, TSMC's US investment and Siemens' Industrial Metaverse

Google: US$10m in Funding for the Manufacturing Institute

14 April

Google announced US$10m in funding for the Manufacturing Institute (MI) to assist the US workforce for what Google calls 'a new era of industrial innovation'.

The funding, from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, is designed to equip 40,000 current and future manufacturing employees with AI skills, as well as expanding apprenticeship opportunities to 15 US regions.

The funding seeks to address a skills gap in the industry, where just 19% of manufacturers offer AI-related training, according to research by the MI and PwC.

Inside TSMC's US$165bn Manufacturing Investment in the US

TSMC has said its fabs in Arizona will strengthen America’s leadership in critical technologies like AI, high-performance computing and advanced mobile applications. Credit: TSMC

13 April

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is set to accelerate its multibillion dollar expansion in Arizona semiconductor manufacturing site (fabs), according to CNBC.

TSMC has invested US$165bn in its first three fabs in Arizona; its first fab began production on technology in 2025, with the second and third fab set to begin production by the second half of 2027 and the end of the decade, respectively. The company is set to expand that investment, according to CNBC.

Siemens & NVIDIA: What is the Industrial Metaverse?

Siemens and NVIDIA have a long-standing strategic partnership, part of which focuses on industrial AI, digital twins, AI infrastructure and the industrial metaverse. Credit: Siemens

13 April

Siemens Industrial Metaverse is a shared, immersive, physics-based digital space where humans and machines interact with both data and one another.

Part of the Industrial Metaverse is software, described by Siemens as "digital twin software” which is part of a collaboration between Siemens and NVIDIA.

In 2025, Siemens and NVIDIA showcased the company's advanced digital twin capabilities at the NVIDIA GPU Technology Conference (GTC) in Washington DC, bringing together 3D visualisation, simulation and factory data into a unified environment.

GB Energy: How Rolls-Royce is Making Small Modular Reactors

The manufacturing rationale behind small modular reactors differs fundamentally from traditional large-scale nuclear plants. Credit: Rolls-Royce SMR

15 April

After years of development, Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) has awarded Rolls-Royce SMR a contract to deliver the UK's first small modular reactors.

The contract follows Rolls-Royce SMR's selection as preferred technology partner in June 2025 and triggers site-specific design work, regulatory engagement and planning processes ahead of a future Final Investment Decision.

With US$3.3bn in public funding allocated to the programme, the deal could reshape domestic manufacturing capacity for decades.

SMMT: Calls for EU to Keep UK Car Manufacturing 'Made in EU'

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, says: “Brexit put the resilience of our shared industry under enormous stress but manufacturers have overcome those challenges to grow our trade in electrified vehicles alone to record levels." Credit: Volkswagen

16 April

The UK’s largest trade association, the Society of Motor Trade Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), has called on the EU to amend its proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) to keep the UK automotive sector as a Made in Europe partner.

The call comes as the SMMT meets with EU representatives in Brussels in order to highlight the importance of the UK automotive industry to the wider European industry.

It has asked for clarity from the EU as to whether the UK would be subject to the regulation, with the trade association arguing that excluding the UK from the Made in Europe policy would inflict significant harm to UK and EU manufacturing capability.