Collaboration key to aerospace success in years to come
GREATER collaboration between universities and manufacturers will help to sustain the long-term future of the aerospace industry in the West Midlands, leading academics and industry leaders have said.
The University of Birmingham said it was securing millions of pounds in research contracts with industry and working with leading manufacturers on new technology was a crucial of generating wealth not just for the university but for industry and the UK economy in general.
“The university is a generator of the economy – 87% of all research funding in Birmingham comes from the university,” Pro-vice Chancellor Professor Richard Williams told a breakfast event on the aerospace industry organised by the University of Birmingham in association with THeBusinessDesk.com.
“Partnerships are the core of what we do. We have partnerships with companies of many sizes from SMEs to members of the Manufacturing Technology Centre. We are interested in pathways in which we could work together with industry.”
His fellow panellist Professor Paul Withey, a castings specialist at Rolls-Royce, said: “Partnerships are crucial to us. We don’t do a lot of research in-house we tend to strike partnerships with the people we think can help us the most.
“In the case of castings then it’s here at the University of Birmingham. This relationship goes back many years and the reason we continue is because of the equipment and expertise that Birmingham has and how it brings on graduates. We are successful at getting Government money for research so we look to develop partnerships with other companies in high technology industries to enable us to offer to market world beating projects.
“It’s an extremely cut throat business bidding for engine projects and having the right partners is crucial. Developing new projects is key to our success.”
Jason Aldridge, managing director of Arrowsmith Engineering in Coventry, said as a member of the aerospace supply chain in the region it was vital to work with leading academic organisations such as the University of Birmingham.
He said his company, a key supplier to the likes of Rolls-Royce, was working in collaboration with universities because it was what its customers wanted.
He said the aerospace industry was one lead by innovation so it was vital the sector was supplied by the latest cutting-edge product.
Striking a positive note, he said: “The next 10 years look very good and it’s a pleasure for us to work with the likes of Rolls-Royce who treat us as strategic partners. They do expect us to put our money where our mouths are and they want high quality delivery and performance.
“They also want us to advance which is why we work with universities such as Warwick and Coventry and catapult centres like the MTC. It’s got to be the whole supply chain that improves it can’t just be the SMEs. It has to get the technology and innovate.”
