Tuesday, October 26, 2010

News: New economic dynamism in Rotherham

By

Prime Minister David Cameron highlighted the success of the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham as he set out the Government's plans to back British business and create "a new economic dynamism" that will build confidence and lead to growth and jobs.

In a speech to the CBI conference, The PM announced the creation of a £200m network of technology innovation centres, linking university researchers with business.

He praised the work of the AMRC, as an example of where industry and research organisations work closely together to develop technology that is then cascaded into industry, helping raise the global competitiveness of UK companies.

Mr Cameron said: "These centres will sit between universities and businesses, bringing the two together.

"They won't just carry out their own in-house research, they will spread knowledge too connecting businesses – large and small, new and old – to potential new technologies, making them aware of funding streams and providing access to skills and equipment.

"It's the sort of thing you see in Orgreave, where the University of Sheffield, Rolls Royce and Boeing are all working together or in Germany, where their Fraunhofer Institutes have been crucial in developing the MP3 licence.

"These centres will be great for research, great for business – and they're going to put Britain back at the top table for innovation."

The centres, which will receive the money over the next four years, will be based on the model proposed by Hermann Hauser and James Dyson. Hauser's report, published in April, highlighted that the AMRC's business model is more sustainable as it secures both private sector and public sector funding.

The AMRC identifies, researches and solves advanced manufacturing problems and has over 80 highly qualified researchers and engineers from around the globe.

Funding is secured from a range of organisations; through winning competitive calls for research from the Technology Strategy Board and Research Councils; research projects commissioned by business; and through Tier 1 and Tier 2 sponsors.

Research is carried out on new and exotic materials such as titanium, inconel and composites. The landing gear for the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner was developed for Messier-Dowty by engineers in Rotherham.

Joe Anwyl, senior business development manager at the AMP welcomed Mr Cameron's comments saying: "The sort of activities that the Prime Minister is looking for from the new Technology and Innovation Centres is what already happens at the AMP every day, and it's heartening from the comments about the AMRC's work in the speech that the Government see the value of what is done here.

"The great news is that we also have Cti and TWI doing similar work to introduce new technologies in casting, joining and additive processes into industry, and Dormer Tools train customers from many industry sectors in the use of new cutting tools for advanced metal alloys and composites.

"At the AMP we are unique in that companies can co-locate alongside these world-class technology organisations, and not only benefit from utilising the technology developed here, but can also collaborate to exploit new technology and market opportunities."

Councillor Gerald Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development Services at Rotherham Council, added: "The AMP has a global reputation for the quality of its advanced manufacturing technology solutions, and with its links to established supply chains, skills and expertise in the Rotherham and wider South Yorkshire area, it would provide an ideal location to base more of the technology and innovation centres announced today."

AMRC website

Images: AMRC

0 comments:

Members:
Supported by:
More news...

  © Blogger template Newspaper III by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP