Government gives £60 million for manufacturing innovation
7 Dec 2016
Universities and science minister Jo Johnson has given £60 million to fund six new research hubs to boost innovation and improve manufacturing techniques in the UK.
Finance will be provided via the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, with the hubs led by the universities of Sheffield, Huddersfield, Nottingham, Cardiff, Strathclyde and University College, London.
These will pool expertise from 11 other universities and 200 partners drawn from industry and academia and focus on areas including powder-based manufacturing processes,biological medicine and 3-D printing.
Said Johnson: “Developing new innovative manufacturing techniques will help UK industry create new products, explore more business opportunities and ensure the UK becomes more competitive and productive.”
This investment will lay the foundations to allow industry and our world-leading universities to thrive for years
Jo Johnson, Minister of Universities, Science, Research and Innovation
“This investment will lay the foundations to allow industry and our world-leading universities to thrive for years to come and is exactly the type of project that our upcoming Industrial Strategy will look to support.”
EPSRC’s chief executive Professor Philip Nelson said some hubs will develop on earlier centres for innovative manufacturing while others, including the Sheffield university hub, would be new ventures.
He added: “EPSRC is pleased to be at the forefront of the drive to keep the UK a prosperous and productive nation.”
