The University of Birmingham and Rolls-Royce celebrated their joint collaboration to establish a High Temperature Research Centre (HTRC) when the University's Vice-Chancellor Professor David Eastwood and Rolls-Royce Director of Research and Technology Ric Parker 'broke ground' at the Centre's new site at Ansty Park, near Coventry.
The University of Birmingham and Rolls-Royce celebrated their joint collaboration to establish a High Temperature Research Centre (HTRC) when the University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor David Eastwood and Rolls-Royce Director of Research and Technology Ric Parker ‘broke ground’ at the Centre’s new site at Ansty Park, near Coventry.
The 5,800 sqm Centre, which will build on a longstanding successful collaboration between the two organisations, is funded through a £40m investment by Rolls-Royce, matched by a £20m government grant through the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s (HEFCE) UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF).
The Centre will be a unique casting, design, simulation and advanced manufacturing research facility, and will focus initially on the key design and manufacturing aspects of investment casting relating to aerospace and other industrial sectors. It will also work in education and research with a variety of other partners in the UK and internationally.
The new facility will offer the opportunity for the University and Rolls-Royce to build upon their existing relationship with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), which is also located at Ansty Park.
Professor David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, said: “The breaking of ground symbolises the first step in our bold and ambitious approach in the construction of this unique facility, which will build on the University’s excellent track-record in casting, materials, engineering and manufacturing research, and will continue to strengthen the relationship between the University and Rolls-Royce.”
Ric Parker, Director of Research and Technology at Rolls-Royce said:
“The joint investment by Rolls-Royce in the High Temperature Research Centre is part of the Company’s existing technology investment plans. It demonstrates our commitment to world-class technology and infrastructure to deliver our promises to our customers. It symbolises our determination to work with top-class universities, like Birmingham, as part of our University Technology Centre network.
“The High Temperature Research Centre further strengthens our strategic partnership with the University of Birmingham and will focus on the development of Turbine investment casting technologies, which are critical to the future success of Rolls-Royce products. This Centre will concentrate our research on one of the hottest and most challenging components in our engines.”
The High Temperature Research will be operated by the University of Birmingham.
Ends
1. Images of Ric Parker and Professor David Eastwood at the breaking ground event are available from the University of Birmingham press office.
2. Rolls-Royce’s vision is to create better power for a changing world via two main business segments, Aerospace and Marine & Industrial Power Systems (MIPS). These businesses address their markets with two strong technology platforms, gas turbines and reciprocating engines, for use on land, at sea and in the air. In 2013, Rolls-Royce invested £1.1 billion on research and development. We also support a global network of 29 University Technology Centres, which connect the company’s engineers with the forefront of scientific research.
3. About The University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham has been named The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year 2013/4. It is a truly vibrant, global community and an internationally-renowned institution. Ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 4,000 international students from nearly 150 countries.
The University is home to nearly 30,000 students. With more than 7,500 postgraduate students from across the world, Birmingham is one of the most popular universities for postgraduate study in the UK. The University plays an integral role in the economic, social and cultural growth of local and regional communities; working closely with businesses and organisations, employing approximately 6,000 staff and producing 10,000 graduates annually.
For further information contact:
Kate Chapple, Press Office, University of Birmingham, tel +44(0)121 414 2772 or +44(0)7789 921164.
