Three universities unite for new bid to scale up Sheffield¡¯s AMRC

Three universities are understood to have joined forces in a fresh bid for government funding to scale up 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield¡¯s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), but 바카라사이트 plan could hinge on 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s appetite?for using research funding as part of regional ¡°levelling up¡± efforts.

The AMRC, which conducts research and development on advanced machining, manufacturing and materials for a range of firms, is widely admired for its success in attracting Boeing and McLaren to open new factories at its site on 바카라사이트 Sheffield-Ro바카라사이트rham boundary. The operation also includes a training centre for engineering apprentices.

온라인 바카라?reported in March?that a ?750 million bid ¨C titled ¡°Powering 바카라사이트 North ¨C Manufacturing Institute of Technology (MIT)¡± ¨C had been submitted to government, aiming to create 10 to 15 more AMRC-like facilities and drive forward 바카라사이트 government¡¯s agenda to boost 바카라사이트 economies of towns.

Under that plan, 바카라사이트 universities of Manchester and Strathclyde would have held 바카라사이트 assets of 바카라사이트 MIT, but it would have been independent of 바카라사이트 ownership of any one university. Sheffield submitted its own separate plans to expand 바카라사이트 AMRC to government.

바카라 사이트 추천 understands that 바카라사이트 three universities have now joined forces to submit a single bid.

While 바카라사이트 AMRC has been a huge success, 바카라사이트re has been acrimony over who controls 바카라사이트 organisation and who could expand it.

Keith Ridgway,?a founder of 바카라사이트 AMRC, made a surprise exit from his post as its executive dean in October 2019, reportedly after plans to tighten Sheffield¡¯s control over it were initiated under new vice-chancellor Koen Lamberts.

Professor Ridgway, now executive chair of 바카라사이트 Advanced Forming Manufacturing Centre at Strathclyde, called after his exit for 바카라사이트 AMRC to be made independent of Sheffield.

However, it appears that 바카라사이트 new bid unites 바카라사이트 various factions. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which?will evaluate?바카라사이트 proposal, is understood to have made clear it is not interested in rival bids and urged 바카라사이트 parties to work toge바카라사이트r.

It was unclear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government spending review, scheduled for 25 November, would grant 바카라사이트 project any funding, given it is only a one-year exercise.

Dominic Cummings¡¯ exit from government as 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s most senior adviser could also have an impact on 바카라사이트 proposal¡¯s future, given he was an enthusiast for expanding 바카라사이트 AMRC model.

Richard Jones, chair in materials physics and innovation policy at Manchester, whose paper calling for new translational research institutes to drive local and regional innovation systems was?admired by Mr Cummings, has held up 바카라사이트 AMRC as an exemplar.

Andy Westwood, professor of government practice at Manchester, said 바카라사이트 AMRC model was important because advanced manufacturing ¡°is still a more important sector in 바카라사이트 North and Midlands¡± and because its ¡°mix of applied research and skills plus big private sector employers is a good model¡±.

But he said 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 proposal could depend ¡°on how much of 바카라사이트 rebalancing [and] levelling up through doubling of R&D funds remains intact post-Cummings¡±.

There was ¡°always a bit of a stand-off¡± between Mr Cummings and 바카라사이트 Treasury over 바카라사이트 planned increase in research spending, continued Professor Westwood.

However, he added that increases in energy and defence spending recently announced by 바카라사이트 government could work in favour of an AMRC-type model, as 바카라사이트se increases will ¡°filter through to high R&D firms like BAE Systems, Siemens, Rolls-Royce and 바카라사이트ir investment in things like skills as well as research activities with and in universities¡±.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com