£49m investment sees trio of advanced engineering research centres open

Credit: University of Sheffield website.

The University of Sheffield’s three new multi-million pound research centres have officially opened.

The centres – the Royce Translational Centre (RTC), the Laboratory for Verification and Validation (LVV), and the Integrated Civil and Infrastructure Research Centre (ICAIR) –  are located within the heart of the Sheffield City Region’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District.

Working with companies to help develop new technologies, the centres will use research to cut costs and lead times which will “revolutionise industrial processes.”

The three translational research facilities are housed in custom designed new buildings, creating 3,000 sq m of high-technology facilities at an investment of £47m.

This project has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the University of Sheffield.

Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry MP and Mayor of the Sheffield City Region Dan Jarvis MP were on hand to open the centres.

The Minister and Mayor praised how the centres will allow businesses to gain access to university research expertise and use industrial digital technologies such as AI and robotics.

Jake Berry MP, Northern Powerhouse Minister, said: “These three new research centres will boost the reputation of the Northern Powerhouse for being the world-leader in cutting-edge research, innovation and advanced engineering.

“Each centre will build upon the UK’s scientific research leadership to equip industry in these key priorities of the Government’s Industrial Strategy so that we have a high-skilled, high-tech, high-performance economy which is fit for the future.”

Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, added: “The University of Sheffield is renowned for its excellence in engineering and advanced manufacturing. I know the opening of these new engineering centres is not just great news for the University, but for the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, the Sheffield City Region, and the wider Northern Powerhouse.

“These cutting-edge facilities will form part of a wider Global Innovation Corridor, linking sites across our region that excel in research, engineering and advanced manufacturing. Firmly rooted in our existing strengths, this corridor will be a global magnet for people, industry and innovators and a huge contributor to our nation’s prosperity.”

As part of his visit, the Minister was given a tour of the new centres by Professor Mike Hounslow.

Professor Hounslow, Vice-President and Head of the Faculty of Engineering, said: “At the University of Sheffield we deliver pioneering interdisciplinary research and find solutions to global challenges.

“The three centres launched today build on this established expertise and firmly place us as a key partner for industry. The capabilities of the centres will enable us to test and operate on an industrial scale, translating theory into application to improve productivity, cost efficiencies and innovation across a broad range of sectors.”

The site is already home to the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Factory 2050 – the UK’s first factory that is entirely dedicated to conducting collaborative research into reconfigurable digitally assisted assembly, component manufacturing and machining technologies.

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