The blossoming motorsport sector could be an area of growth for the region, according to Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, head of Warwick Manufacturing Group.
He revealed that the work – particularly concentrated in the Midlands – has many spin-offs in other sectors, including developing synthetic bone based on the manufacture of catalytic converters.
He was addressing the Chinese government in Beijing, as well as academic and business leaders, on how Chinese businesses could use academic research to develop world class products and processes to sustain the country’s strong rate of growth.
Lord Bhattacharyya noted that since most companies were now global or had global partners, their supply source could be anywhere in world.
“Pockets of excellence are everywhere, so every company is effectively competing against the global leader in their field. This is a tremendous spur to innovation.”
Lord Bhattacharyya said this process was particularly relevant to the UK motorsport industry. He went on: “Advanced motorsport engineering has long been a British speciality, even as the rest of the UK automotive sector has struggled. It is a hotbed of innovation for parts, for design systems and for new design techniques.
“The leading firms in this field partner with academic researchers, to solve complex problems in every area from aerodynamics to fuel efficiency to and lightweight materials."
“As a result companies, from all over world, subcontract their automotive R&D to the UK, which means that parts suppliers follow suit, as they try and anticipate the new technologies that will impact their products."
“This shows the importance of global partnerships, customer understanding, a design culture and, most importantly, a continual awareness of the importance of innovation.”
Reproduced from www.birminghampost.net.
