Elite role for Centre for Process Innovation
21 Mar 2011
London – The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) is to be part of a new UK “elite technology innovation centre” – an £200 million government initiative intended to give SMEs greater access to specialist technical expertise, infrastructure, skills and equipment.
The scheme will be backed by a consortium comprising: CPI, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, the Advanced Forming Research Centre, the Manufacturing Technology Centre, the Nuclear AMRC, the National Composites Centre and Warwick Manufacturing Group.
The groups will receive “substantial investment” to maximise the economic growth potential of new technology in areas where substantial global markets are forecast. Target areas include aerospace, automotive and pharmaceuticals and technologies such as plastic electronics, fibre reinforced polymer composites and biotechnology.
UK business secretary, Vince Cable, said: “Each of these partners brings with it a strong network of linkages with universities specialising in developing leading edge technologies in their areas of focus, and industrial companies seeking to co-develop and then exploit these in the market place.”
A planned investment of £200m plus into a network of technology and innovation centres was announced in October 2010.
Over 140 organisations registered their interest and from these a small number of highly credible parties were asked to submit proposals. These were assessed by an independent expert panel and a preferred bidder selected.
CPI’s track record of work in the innovation space between the discovery of an idea and the delivery of a product or service to the commercial market fits this criteria.
CPI chief executive, Nigel Perry, said: “[We] are looking forward to working with our partners in the new Centre.
“This announcement heralds sustained investment into manufacturing and CPI’s proven ability to help companies create their next generation of products and processes will grow as a result. This is great news for the UK, for the North-East and for the process industry.”
