Member Article

Cambridge study will guide future of UK manufacturing

A manufacturing report announced at today’s Growth Summit in Bristol will be used to guide the future of high value manufacturing in the UK.

Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) produced the study, which will be used to inform public policy, research strategies and investment programmes, particularly in the high value manufacturing Catapult centre, opened in October 2011.

Five strategic themes were identified in the report, including resource efficiency, and the need to secure UK manufacturing technologies against scarcity of energy; manufacturing systems; material integration; manufacturing processes; and business models.

The most promising R&D innovation opportunity areas were highlighted as additive manufacturing, robotics and automation, micro and nano-manufacturing processes, low carbon vehicles, sensor technologies and energy storage.

Professor Sir Mike Gregory, head of the University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing: “Using tried and tested Roadmapping techniques, coupled with a highly structured consultation process, this report reflects the views of a broad cross-section of senior industrialists, academics and institutions.

“Their collective expertise provides an excellent foundation on which to build robust and focused policies to support our vital manufacturing industries.”

Mark Claydon-Smith, EPSRC Lead, Manufacturing the Future, added: “The UK has a well-deserved international reputation for the quality of its science and engineering
research.

“However, the pathway to impact from excellent research can be convoluted. This report
highlights a number of areas of clear national advantage, where the prospects for successful innovative outcomes are strong.

“The strategic focus described within this report provides an opportunity to build and sustain manufacturing competitiveness over the long term.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .