Government boosts UK manufacturing
Vince Cable announces the UK's first Technology and Innovation Centre to drive growth and help industry capitalise on the UK's world class research.
Today鈥檚 announcement is a key part of the Government鈥檚 Growth Review, targeting the expansion of Britain鈥檚 manufacturing sector and positioning the UK as Europe鈥檚 leading exporter of high value goods.
皇冠体育app Government is investing over 拢200 million to create an elite network of
皇冠体育app first Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) will focus on High Value Manufacturing. It will be formed from a group of research and technology facilities from across the country, with Rotherham, which the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Business visited today, one of the centres of excellence.
皇冠体育app new TIC will provide an integrated capability and embrace all forms of manufacture using metals and composites, in addition to process manufacturing technologies and bio-processing. It will draw on excellent university research to accelerate the commercialisation of new and emerging manufacturing technologies. 皇冠体育app seven centres are:
- Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Rotherham)
- Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Rotherham)
- Manufacturing Technology Centre (Coventry)
- Advanced Forming Research Centre (University of Strathclyde)
- National Composite Centre (University of Bristol)
- Centre for Process Innovation (Wilton & Sedgefield)
- WMG (University of Warwick)
Business Secretary Vince Cable said;
鈥淢anufacturing is vital to the country鈥檚 economic stability and our potential to achieve growth.
鈥淚t generates 拢140 billion a year, accounting for 55 per cent of total UK exports - but it has considerably greater potential. That鈥檚 why I am throwing my weight behind this package - to help Britain reach its potential.
鈥溁使谔逵齛pp investment in the new centre will further bridge the gap between universities and businesses, helping to commercialise the outputs of Britain鈥檚 world-class research base.鈥�
Research and UK manufacturing
皇冠体育app Government also announced additional support for manufacturing today.
An extra 拢7million so that the can specifically focus on supply chain development, in addition to the 拢50m already announced for the delivery of MAS over the next three years. 皇冠体育app reformed MAS will be available from 1 January 2012.
Nine new university-based Centres for Innovative Manufacturing are to be established with Government funding of 拢45 million through the (EPSRC). 皇冠体育appse new centres will combine inventive research and business acumen to develop the sorts of innovative ideas taken forward to commercialisation through Technology and Innovation Centres.
New Fellowships offering up to 5 years of support for researchers who have the potential to be future manufacturing research leaders in their field.