Philip Hammond, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced the latest Catapult funding round, stating: “The investment will support innovators across the country to create the technologies of the future, and the better, highly-paid jobs we urgently need.”
Strathclyde principal professor Jim McDonald added: “We are proud of our work with business and industry; work which accelerates the development of new technologies, creates jobs, and provides education and training for future leaders. The strategic collaborations we have established with industry and our public sector partners are helping to establish Scotland as an international leader in key manufacturing technologies.
“The Catapult Centres offer world-class facilities and expertise to help businesses become more innovative and grow,” he continued. “I’m delighted that today’s funding will enable us to further this work, supporting more businesses to compete on the world stage.”
Professor Keith Ridgway CBE, AFRC executive chair, was equally pleased: “We warmly welcome this news. For a number of years the AFRC has been at the heart of research and development in Scotland, turning innovative technologies into commercial reality and making manufacturing businesses, of all sizes from across the sector, more competitive in a global market. The funding announcement by the UK Government means we can continue to build on our capabilities.”
