University of Birmingham extends collaboration agreement with technology giant

The University of Birmingham has signed a strategic framework agreement with technology giant BAE Systems, which will strengthen the existing relationship between the two organisations.   
 
Birmingham is one of a small number of UK universities to sign such an agreement and comes as BAE Systems reviews its university partnerships strategy in order to work more closely with institutions with shared expertise in future capabilities.
 
The framework allows BAE Systems and the university to share strategic aims for the future and more closely aligns the university’s world-leading expertise with BAE Systems’ own work.
 
Professor Andy Schofield, University Pro Vice Chancellor (Engineering), said: “The university has taken a major step forward in strengthening its long-standing relationship with BAE Systems. Our partnerships with industry are key to delivering our strategy and this agreement will support the continued growth of this relationship over the coming years.
 
“We look forward to working more closely together on exciting research and innovation to achieve even greater mutual benefits.”
 
Jennifer Osbaldestin, BAE Systems Managing Director, Land, added: “Partnerships like these are great news for BAE Systems and the wider UK engineering industry, so we are delighted to agree this strategic framework for working more closely with the University of Birmingham.

“It ties in perfectly with our business strategy to develop new technology and give our customers an essential edge.  I look forward to working collaboratively on many projects in the future.”
 
The university and BAE Systems have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship for many years, including a number of successful collaboration and research projects. These include the highly successful and award-winning research projects SAMULET, which looks at strategic manufacturing technology and ORCHID, which looks at how humans and computers can better interact in disaster management and other areas.
 
Birmingham has also benefited from collaborative work on enhancing skills in the maritime engineering sector.
 
The first activities under this framework will be for members of the Land UK Technology team to meet with university academics to learn about areas of expertise and look at ways to work more closely in future.