Universities welcome £40m Manufacturing Technology Centre

PA 280/09 The University of Nottingham, the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University and TWI Ltd, the operating division of The Welding Institute, have welcomed public funding approval by the Government today for the world class Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), based in the Midlands. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has confirmed a combined capital contribution of £40 million from Advantage West Midlands and East Midlands Development Agency (emda) - one of the largest public sector investments in manufacturing for many years. The MTC is backed by some of the UK's major global manufacturers and will support UK manufacturing companies, and their supply chains, to bring about major improvements in their manufacturing competitiveness. A new model of collaborative partnership between industry, universities and research and technology organisations (RTO), the MTC reflects the need for manufacturers to move away from competing simply on cost and to compete more on knowledge. Founder industrial members of the MTC are Rolls-Royce, Jaguar Land Rover, Aero Engine Controls and Airbus UK. Research partners include the University of Birmingham, University of Nottingham, Loughborough University and TWI Ltd, the operating division of The Welding Institute. The centre will provide resources and a high quality environment for the development and demonstration of new technologies on an industrial scale.