Cranfield University is to play a key role in ensuring the UK stays at the cutting edge of manufacturing research, following a £51m boost by the Government. This will stimulate growth for the UK economy and will focus on the pharmaceutical, aerospace and automotive industries.
To facilitate this, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will set up nine new Centres for Innovative Manufacturing and Cranfield University has been selected as the top contributor, being appointed to five of these – three as the lead university and participating in a further two.
Over 50 leading companies will also be pooling a further £20m research funding to strengthen this initiative. Partners include General Motors, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, IBM, GKN, Unilever and a range of high-tech small and medium-sized enterprises. Cranfield has well established partnerships with many of these key partners.
One of Cranfield’s key strengths is the ability to translate innovation into practical applications. Cranfield’s major research and innovation capability in manufacturing includes design and materials processing through to manufacturing technology and service, all underpinned by our strength in engineering and management. Cranfield is therefore well placed to provide a major contribution to this national initiative.
Manufacturing generates £140 billion a year for the UK economy and accounts for 55 per cent of total UK exports, and increasingly, it is high-tech, advanced manufacturing expertise that leads the way.
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