Boosting innovation in manufacturing competencies
25/01/2012
The Government is to invest up to £6 million in new collaborative research and development projects that stimulate innovation in manufacturing and drive economic growth.The Technology Strategy Board (www.innovateuk.org) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (www.epsrc.ac.uk) are seeking proposals for R&D that will focus on new technologies with the potential to underpin new production processes for a wide range of industrial applications and market sectors.
The Boosting Innovation in Manufacturing Competencies competition aims to support business-oriented innovation in production processes. It focuses on production technologies that, within a global marketplace, can create high value through novel processes, advanced product manufacture, resource efficiency and production techniques to enable greater product customisation. It also encourages technologies that will facilitate greater environmental sustainability through efficient disposal, recycling or remanufacture of assets at the end of their useful life.
The Technology Strategy Board is particularly keen to support projects which explore:
- new approaches for improved correlation between, and integration of, process modelling and in-process monitoring;
- innovative automation techniques and applications for adaptive learning in the precision control and metrology of tooling, machining, joining, fabrication and assembly systems;
- intelligent processing of metals and net shape hybrid structures to increase speed and accuracy and reduce waste;
- innovation in new manufacturing process ‘competencies’ – the methods, equipment and expertise that can be developed as a leading capability in one market sector or application and have real potential to be applied successfully across other sectors or applications as well.
The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led Government body, which works to create economic growth by ensuring that the UK is a global leader in innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and help build the future economy. For more information visit: www.innovateuk.org
