£92m for manufacturing hubs
20 Nov 2015
Universities and science minister Jo Johnson has today announced £92 million worth of investment for two new manufacturing hubs in the UK.
The two hubs, based at the University of Southampton and Brunel University and supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will be designed to address major issues faced throughout the manufacturing sector and “capture opportunities” from emerging research projects.
The Future Liquid Metal Engineering hub at Brunel University will address issues including rising energy and materials costs, as well as skills shortages.
These hubs will develop the next generation of high tech products in communications and healthcare
Jo Johnson MP
Meanwhile, the High Value Photonic Manufacturing at the University of Southampton will support growth in the UK’s photonics market by helping photonics experts improve manufacturing processes, while also being a “one-stop-shop” for trialling user ideas, the EPSRC said.
“With this £92 million investment, these new manufacturing hubs will develop the next generation of high tech products in communications and healthcare, as well as tackle industry challenges such as rising materials costs,” said Johnson.
EPSRC chief executive Philip Nelson said the hubs will help those in the manufacturing industries respond to sector-specific opportunities and drivers.
“We are confident universities and industry collaborators will embrace this new opportunity to invest in the future of UK manufacturing through research,” Nelson said.
The investment is made up of £20 million from the EPSRC, £14 million from the two universities and a further £58 million from industry.
