The two parties involved initially are the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and the National Research Council of Canada, who has signed a collaborative research agreement at a ceremony that took place at the Canadian High Commission in London.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement is the first project under the broader CAN-UK science, technology and innovation research partnership.
Professor Keith Ridgway, executive dean of the AMRC, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with our academic colleagues in Canada and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.”
As well as the AMRC and NRC, additional project partners will be required for phase two onwards. Industry partner involvement will ensure the technology and specific applications being developed are directly relevant to near-future aero-structures.
François Cordeau, vice president of the Transportation and Manufacturing Division of the National Research Council of Canada, said: “Manufacturing makes up nearly half of Canada's aerospace sector. The NRC is excited to work with the global aerospace industry by collaborating with the University of Sheffield on advanced manufacturing methods for cost-effective and environmentally-friendly aircraft.”
This announcement comes as the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and NRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the delivery of collaborative, jointly-funded research and innovation programmes.
UKRI has been in operation since 1 April this year and is the national funding agency investing in science and research in the UK. Operating across the whole of the UK with a combined budget of more than £6 billion, UKRI brings together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and Research England.
