David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science has opened a new Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at The University of Nottingham.
The institute which received £2 million from the University’s Capital Investment Fund, is to centralise activity and drive development of cutting-edge technology, the Institute has an team of established academics in their respective fields in place in the UK and also at its campuses in Malaysia and China.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council has provided over half a million pounds for the Institute to invest in specialist equipment. In addition, the European Regional Development Fund is providing just under 1 million to support business engagement and knowledge transfer activities with local SMEs with the aim of supporting innovation and growth within the region.
The Universities research portfolio presents a unique, integrated and holistic approach to manufacturing, focusing on themes including process technologies, composite manufacturing, food and additive manufacturing, digital manufacturing and operations management.
The Institute has partners in aerospace, automotive, medical, instrumentation, defence, power engineering, textiles and clothing. Major global stakeholders include Airbus, Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems, all with strategic and operational links to the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry.
The Manufacturing Technology Centre provides new opportunities for manufacturing knowledge and technology transfer, allowing accelerated testing, demonstration and industrialisation of manufacturing concepts, technologies and processes developed at Nottingham.
David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science said:
As set out in the Government’s industrial strategy, it is vital that business benefits from the very best and latest technologies in order to compete in the global marketplace and be a driving force for growth. That’s why I am very pleased to be opening the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing at the University of Nottingham today, which has benefitted from significant Government funding. It will complement our £140 million investment in the High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre, which also brings business and the research base together to commercialise new technologies.