For the past two years the organisations have been collaborating in areas such as electricity transmission asset management, gas transmission, microtunnelling, and cyber security. The extension of the partnership will see new fields such as big data and energy storage being explored.
Warwick University’s vice-chancellor Prof Sir Nigel Thrift commented: “Warwick’s research strengths in a range of technologies that are crucial to energy supply, and our shared desire to support the development of young people’s skills and training, have been central to our partnership to date and will drive even greater collaboration through this new memorandum of understanding.”
The partnership has so far seen the organisations providing training for young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs), with Warwick providing the space and National Grid delivering the training. National Grid is also a supporter of the WMG Academy, a STEM-focused school with strong links to Warwick University.
As part of the new MoU, National Grid has agreed £10,000 sponsorship for the Discovery Zone at Warwick University’s Festival of the Imagination, taking place on October 16 and 17. The festival is part of the university’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
“We know that Warwick is at the forefront in terms of innovative research and an investment that seeks to encourage advancement in engineering and technology is an investment that will pay dividends for everyone in the future,” said David Wright, National Grid’s director of electricity transmission asset management.
“We are keen to continue our positive relationship with the university.”
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