28 . Glasgow Business June 2015
“The knowledge transfer on which our partnership is based, works both ways”
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It will seek to find innovative solutions in areas of challenge that have a major impact on the economy, including energy, health future cities and manufacturing.
It will work on research in areas that will help to create the industries of the future, inventing new processes and ways of operating that will provide an answer to unanswered questions or deliver new solutions that are more cost effective or have more revenue- earning potential.
It will operate in key areas such as low carbon power and energy systems, advanced sensors and ICT, high-value manufacturing and engineering, nanoscience, plasma physics and continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing. Another important factor is the sheer scale of the facilities on offer under the one roof – TIC is more than 25,000 square metres in area, the equivalent of 100 tennis courts. TIC hosts the Weir Advanced Engineering Research Centre, a collaborative project between leading Glasgow-based engineer the Weir Group and the University of Strathclyde. Weir identified collaboration with the University as a key way to develop ‘blue sky’ technologies and innovation in the three main markets in which it operates: mining, oil and gas, and power generation. A key part of the collaboration is the development of a Research Exploitation Partnership that enables Weir and University staff to be co-seconded to work together on knowledge exchange projects.
Research and development activities Weir and Strathclyde employees have collaborated on include reviews of mechanical design, manufacture process and materials testing and assessment programmes.
Te Weir Group is funding the Advanced Research Centre with an initial investment of £1.9 million over three years and continuing investment thereaſter. Tis funding creates four PhD studentships per year, which the company explained, “underscores the Weir Group’s commitment to education and advancing engineering skills in the UK”.
Alan Bickley, Director of the Weir Advanced Research Centre, said: “Te Weir Group has been creating innovative engineering solutions to make our global customers more efficient for nearly 150 years. As a Glasgow-based company we’ve built a strong relationship with Strathclyde’s academics and the University hosts the Weir Advanced Research Centre which is developing technology for the Group’s future products and services. We are delighted to be among the first occupants of the Technology & Innovation Centre and look forward to working with others in this great facility to create the next generation of leading technologies.” A university spokeswoman said: “Te
knowledge transfer on which our partnership is based works both ways. Tere is the transfer of advanced research outcomes and staff skills from Strathclyde into industry design and manufacture; in return, Strathclyde staff gain invaluable insight into industry best practice.” Te TIC also hosts the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics which said that a great deal of mutual benefit had been achieved in a short time in the link with the University of Strathclyde with “technologies originating in Strathclyde maturing in Fraunhofer and heading towards useful industrial outcomes”.
Te Fraunhofer CAP has a core remit of providing applied research and development, which benefits industry. It focuses on applied photonics that underpins a range of leading- edge products and sectors.
In its first two years of trading, the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics won direct contract research for a range of industrial partners and won 14 Innovate UK and four EU projects totalling £12.4 million for all partners and £3.5 million had been secured from these projects for applied research at Fraunhofer CAP.
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