NCC to be part of National High Value Manufacturing Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC)

Date:

Thu, 2011-03-17 11:16

Responding to today’s announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Executive Director of the National Composites Centre (NCC), Peter Chivers, said: “I am delighted for the NCC to be working with the six other centres –the Advanced Forming Research Centre at the University of Strathclyde, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Rotherham, the Centre for Process Innovation in Wilton & Sedgefield, the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry, the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Rotherham and the Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick - in the formation of the high value manufacturing TIC.”

“This is fantastic news for Bristol. Today’s announcement recognises the world-class expertise in advanced manufacturing in the South West and the potential of this industry to secure jobs and prosperity for decades to come. On a more practical level, it will enable Bristol to solidify its position at the forefront of composites, an industry that is growing at 8% per year. This is a huge opportunity for the National Composites Centre. The Deputy Prime Minister and Business Secretary have laid down the challenge – it is now up to us to meet that challenge."

Guy Orpen, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Bristol, commented: “There is no doubt that composites will form a vital part of the UK’s manufacturing renaissance. This key part of the UK economy will be driven by closer collaboration between industry and the very best of academia and we are proud that the University of Bristol and the NCC’s initiating partners are playing such a significant role in this important part of the UK’s economy going forward. This is very good news for Bristol, the region and the UK.”

Graham Harrison, the South West RDA's Director of International Business, said: "This is great news for the region and the UK as a whole. It underpins Bristol and the wider South West's status as one of the most capable advanced composites and engineering centres in the world with the potential to secure thousands of jobs. The Agency has invested heavily in the NCC and related project and believe the TIC announcement endorses our strategy over the past few years."

Notes to editors

1. Composites are made from at least two materials that together deliver engineering properties that are superior to those of the materials on their own. In practice, most composites consist of a weaker bulk material and a reinforcement of some kind, added primarily to increase the strength and stiffness of the material.

2. The NCC’s mission is ‘To be an independent, open-access national centre that delivers world-class innovation in the design and rapid manufacture of composites and facilitates their widespread industrial exploitation.’

3. In November 2009 the Government launched the UK Composites Strategy. This highlighted the importance of composites to the future of UK manufacturing and the Government’s plans for ensuring that the UK has the means to succeed in intensely competitive global markets.

4. A key part of this strategy was the establishment of the National Composites Centre (NCC), which will bring together dynamic companies and enterprising academics to develop new technologies for the design and rapid manufacture of high-quality composite products. The combination of academic and business strengths will speed progress from laboratory to design to factory and into products.

5. The NCC is a £25m investment supported by: the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (£12m); the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency) (£4m); and £9m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

6. ERDF Competitiveness in the South West has one objective - to increase the prosperity of the region through supporting enterprises and individuals to develop ideas and plans which contribute to increase productivity and competitiveness. This objective is supported by four operational objectives:

Increasing the productivity of the region’s business base, through the promotion and support of innovation, research and development and the application of knowledge;
Reduce intra-regional disparities through stimulating enterprise and accelerating business growth in those parts of the region lagging behind;
To increase employment and enterprise in the region's most disadvantaged communities; and
Protect and enhance the region's environmental assets and work towards developing a low carbon economy.