Brunel University launches manufacturing research centre

According to Brunel, the CRN will provide UK industry with access to the university’s manufacturing expertise and create new opportunities for innovation in knowledge transfer, cross-disciplinary research and industrial collaboration.

Prof Kai Cheng, leader of the Innovation Manufacturing CRN, said: ‘In the last few decades, manufacturing has moved from comprising those activities that take place within the factory walls to a multi-skilled, multi-disciplinary cycle of activities combining research, design and development, production, logistics, service provision and end-of-life management.

‘Many different players and partners up and down the value chain are needed to undertake these activities. As a result, it has become difficult for all but the largest players to assemble the skills, knowledge and technologies needed to develop new products and services successfully.

‘The Innovative Manufacturing CRN will enable UK manufacturers of all sizes to access in one place the expertise they need.’

Dr Richard Bateman, co-ordinator of the Innovative Manufacturing CRN, added that, despite widespread public perception, manufacturing remains critical to the UK’s economy.