University awarded £2m

Northern Way Growth Fund has awarded researchers at Sheffield University £2m to invest in the Molecular Engineering Translational Research Centre (METRC) funded by the N8 Research Partnership.

The METRC uses molecular engineering and nanotechnology to develop new products.

As the largest research pooling partnership ever undertaken in the UK, the N8 believes the new centre will improve its research capacity and improve the country’s economic standing.

The centre, led by Professor Tony Ryan OBE pro-vice-chancellor for the Faculty of Pure Science at Sheffield University, hopes to advance technology past the concept phase to commercial products for use in everyday life.

Researchers will collaborate with businesses to combine expertise in new products, processes and services.

Research will be focused on market sectors such as home and personal care, medicine and healthcare and energy.

According to the METRC, developments could include improvements in interaction between humans and IT and sensors and implants, providing healthcare through human-device interfaces and smart homes and fabrics.

Professor Ryan said: ‘The fundamental objective of METRC is to stimulate economic growth.

‘The old corporate research labs have gone and we’d like to create space where industrial and academic scientists can work alongside each other to turn cutting edge university research into exciting new products and processes for UK and global companies.

‘Molecular engineering underpins a wealth of existing and new products, from soap to solar cells.

‘Our business is in the science of everyday things.’

HRH the Duke of York last week opened the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre’s (AMRC) £15m Factory of the Future at Sheffield University.

The factory, sponsored by Rolls-Royce, is the second phase of development of Sheffield University’s AMRC with Boeing.

The facility forms part of a global collaboration between technology and engineering companies to provide sustainable manufacturing solutions for the aerospace industry.

As part of his visit, The Duke of York was given a 3D experience in the factory’s Virtual Reality Suite which allows researchers to simulate various engineering solutions.

The factory is also developing advanced techniques in measurement systems and robotics, metal injection moulding, complex machining and shaped metal deposition.