New engineers to fuel high-tech manufacturing growth 13 January 2011

The automotive and aerospace industries in the UK received a major boost today as Universities and Science Minister David Willetts announced the launch of five new centres across the UK, to train engineers of the future.

The EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) is co-funding five new Industrial Doctorate Centres, covering key areas of advanced manufacturing vital to growth in two of the UK's biggest industrial sectors.

The centres will help students taking an engineering doctorate (EngD) to understand the needs of business, how to be entrepreneurs, as well as training them in the most innovative future technologies in advanced manufacturing.

Launching the new centres during a visit to the Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University, Willetts, said: "These new centres will generate a new wave of engineers with the knowledge and skills needed to become future business leaders and create new innovation and economic growth for the UK."

And he added: "They focus on key areas of advanced manufacturing, which are vital to the UK's major industrial sectors including the aerospace and automotive industry. These talented young innovators will help fuel future economic growth for the UK."

The five areas covered are: rapid manufacturing at Nottingham, Birmingham and Loughborough Universities (Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC); manufacturing metal at University of Strathclyde, Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC); new machine technology at Sheffield University, Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC); high value. low environmental impact manufacturing at Warwick University (Warwick Manufacturing Group); and improving manufacturing processes at Swansea University (College of Engineering).

Brian Tinham

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