Birmingham University partners Rolls Royce
AN INJECTION of £45m from the government will support research into low carbon aerospace technology, with Birmingham Universtiy one of the organisations set to benefit.
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson announced the package to research and develop more fuel-efficient, lower-carbon aero engines through new partnerships between Rolls-Royce and universities around the UK.
He also welcomed the new Rolls-Royce factory in Washington, Sunderland
Research projects will be overseen by the Technology Strategy Board and include:
- Developing lighter fans that reduce fuel consumption
- Simulation technology for virtual engineering
- New, affordable high temperature alloys to improve fuel efficiency
As well as Birmingham, Rolls-Royce will partner with universities in Bristol, Cambridge, Loughborough, Nottingham and Oxford.
Lord Mandelson also welcomed the Rolls-Royce commitment to build a new aero-engine disc facility in Washington, Sunderland: “The knowledge, skills and high-end production the UK offers give us huge opportunities to benefit as global demand for low carbon products grows.
“These new projects will help our world class aerospace industry to meet that growing low carbon demand.
“Rolls-Royce represents some of the best of British advanced manufacturing. Its plans to site a new factory in the North East underline the company’s commitment to British manufacturing excellence.”
Ric Parker, Director of Research and Technology, Rolls-Royce, said: “This is a good example of government, industry and academia coming together to expand Britain’s capabilities in high value added manufacturing. The innovative, high value-added work that the SILOET programme is addressing will influence future aero-engine architecture and help to further reduce the impact of aviation on the environment.”
The disc facility is one of four new facilities Rolls-Royce is to build in the UK which will secure or create 800 jobs in innovative high-value manufacturing programmes over the long term.
The research programmes will be funded by Strategic Investment in Low Carbon Engine Technology (SILOET).
The Advanced Manufacturing Strategy, July 2009, announced Government support for Rolls-Royce with £45m Grants for Business Investment that would see them build four new advanced manufacturing facilities in the UK. Two of the four Rolls-Royce sites have already been announced, the military fan blades facility in Barnoldswick, and the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in South Yorkshire.
