Funding boost for green tech and advanced materials research
A number of new university and business research partnerships have been announced today by Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts, in sectors including energy efficiency, advanced manufacturing and advanced materials.
The new projects double the number of winning bids from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund to 14. When complete, the scheme will deliver more than £1billion of new funding for research from government and industry.
"It is fantastic that our top businesses are queuing up to collaborate with our world class universities," noted Willetts. "They want to work together to deliver innovation, commercialisation and growth, which will help make sure the UK competes and thrives in the global race."
Of the seven projects announced today is a £28m partnership between Swansea University, BP and TATA Steel, which will focus on creating a new centre at the unviersity called the Energy Safety Research Institute.
The facility will focus on the safety issues surrounding the development of existing energy processes, as well as the safe deployment of new green energy technologies.
An additional £50m has been allocated to Imperial College London and Vordea to contribute to the development of a major new campus adjacent to the White City regeneration area.
The centrepiece will be the Research and Translation Hub, which will provide high specification research and incubator space for 1,000 researchers investigating next generation materials.
