Technology Innovation Centre expected to generate £2 billion R&D

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The first of the UK's new network of Technology Innovation Centres was launched in March at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing.

The University of Sheffield AMRC with Boeing and Nuclear AMRC are part of a consortium of seven research centres appointed to run the new Technology Innovation Centre (TIC) for High Value Manufacturing. The other centres in the consortium are: • Advanced Forming Research Centre, Glasgow • Centre for Process Innovation, Teesside • Manufacturing Technology Centre, Coventry • National Composites Centre, Bristol • Warwick Manufacturing Group The TIC funding, worth £30 million per annum over 10 years, allows the seven centres to build on their established success and expertise, and to create a national network capable of addressing all manufacturing issues. The bulk of the new money will be invested in new facilities, to expand current operations in response to industry needs and create research programmes in new technology areas. Over 10 years, the centre is expected to lead to some £2 billion of additional manufacturing R&D in the UK, and the creation of 3,000 new research engineer jobs across the seven centres. Business Secretary Vince Cable MP and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP announced details of the new centre before a visit the Nuclear AMRC in Rotherham, last month. The AMRC was identified as a role model for the TIC programme by Prime Minister David Cameron, as he launched the programme in October 2010. Mr Cable MP said: "The Technology Innovation Centre will help to equip UK industry with the ability to capitalise on the future global market opportunities by drawing on leading edge research and will form a key part of the Government's work to rebalance the UK economy and create new high-value private sector jobs. "The investment in the new centre will further bridge the gap between universities and businesses, helping to commercialise the outputs of Britain's world-class research base."