A technology centre aiming to become a UK hub for industrial materials research has revealed plans to create two new facilities.
The Materials Processing Institute (MPI) in Grangetown helps companies across a wide range of sectors to trial, develop and commercialise their technologies. Now the organisation wants to beef up its offering with a training centre to upskill science and engineering PhD students and a tech facility to help SMEs commercialise their R&D.
The Centre for Doctoral Training will help PhD students from Durham, Sheffield and Newcastle universities to carry out industrial-focused research that could be used to test and commercialise new technologies and processes. Funded by the universities and industry, it is expected to receive the first intake of students in October.
Meanwhile, MPI has applied for £3m from the Local Growth Fund to get the SME technology accelerator off the ground. The facility will provide a tailored package of support for SMEs, including technical assistance to develop a product or process, access to R&D equipment and laboratory space, and general business advice. A decision on the LGF funding is expected within weeks.
Chris McDonald, CEO of MPI, said: “The technology accelerator will provide opportunities for SMEs to realise the commercial benefits of their technologies. It will support SMEs throughout the materials processing supply chain.
“The Centre for Doctoral Training will help students with their PhDs but their research must have a strong industrial focus. It will provide a technical resource to industry and at the same time develop the next generation of scientists and engineers.
“There needs to be more entrepreneurship in the materials sector. The hope is that some of the students will start their own businesses after finishing their doctorates - and then they will be able to benefit from the SME technology accelerator.”
The new facilities are the latest innovations at MPI, which is bidding to become a recognised Catapult Centre for UK industry. Catapults under Inovate UK - formerly the Government’s Technology Strategy Board - are technology and innovation centres that allow UK businesses, scientists and engineers to work alongside each other on R&D activities.
Mr McDonald said having catapult status would make it easier for MPI to attract funding and expand its international reach from Teesside. He is actively lobbying senior figures in Westminster, including business secretary Vince Cable and chief scientific advisor Sir Mark Walport, to make the case for MPI as a leading UK hub for industrial materials R&D. However, the Government is unlikely to make a decision before the General Election.
Founded in 1945, MPI was the R&D arm of British Steel and then Tata before returning to independent ownership late last year. Previously it worked almost exclusively with the steel industry but has now broadened its services to other sectors, including firms working on graphene, nickel, glass and ceramics-based applications.
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