The University of Huddersfield has secured one of its largest ever research grants to create a new hub for advanced manufacturing.
The £13.3 million ground-breaking project will focus on metrology – the science of measurement – in a bid to enable net zero manufacturing.
Known as the Future Advanced Metrology Hub for Sustainable Manufacturing, the project will see £8 million come directly to the university.
The UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (ESPRC) has announced funding of £11m and the whole project could be worth £24 million with investment from other partners.
University Vice-Chancellor Prof Bob Cryan said: “I am delighted to welcome the funding announcement from the ESPRC, which is one of the largest research grants the University of Huddersfield has ever received.
“It is a testament to the research excellence of our team of scientists at the Centre for Precision Technologies that the University of Huddersfield has been selected to be at the centre of advancements in sustainable manufacturing by leading this new Metrology Hub. I look forward to the world-class innovations it will make.”
World-renowned expert in the field of advanced metrology Prof Dame Xiangqian (Jane) Jiang leads the project which is based at the university’s Centre for Precision Technologies (CPT) and will run for seven years.
Several other universities will be involved along with more than 25 industrial partners, including Renishaw, Machine Tool Technologies (MTT), Taylor Hobson, Cummins and Siemens.
Metrology underpins the entire scope of manufacturing and product verification and the constant drive for accuracy, speed, cost, reduced waste, reduced energy usage and enhanced product quality has seen measurement technologies become a crucial tool in enhancing manufacturing sustainability.
Prof Jiang, who is a Professor of Precision Metrology at the university, the chief scientist at the CPT and director of the current Future Metrology Hub, said: “This new Hub brings together a consortium of world-leading experts in metrology to address the significant challenges the manufacturing sector faces in meeting net zero goals.
“The critical mass funding support from EPSRC is a reflection of the consortium’s research strength and capacity to deliver groundbreaking new technologies.”
Science Minister Andrew Griffith said: “Manufacturing accounts for almost a tenth of the UK’s economic output, but for the sector to keep growing and sustaining jobs nationwide, it has to tackle challenges ranging from reducing emissions, to cutting production costs.
“These new hubs will support UK researchers with the cutting-edge facilities they need, to help our manufacturers seize the benefits of technologies such as robotics and AI.
“Harnessing these innovations will cement the UK’s position as a global leader in sustainable manufacturing.”
