The University of Birmingham and Rolls-Royce celebrated their joint collaboration to establish a High Temperature Research Centre (HTRC) when the University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor David Eastwood and Rolls-Royce Director of Research and Technology Ric Parker ‘broke ground’ at the Centre’s new site at Ansty Park, near Coventry.
The 5,800 sqm Centre, which will build on a longstanding successful collaboration between the two organisations, is funded through a £40m investment by Rolls-Royce, matched by a £20m government grant through the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s (HEFCE) UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF).
The Centre will be a unique casting, design, simulation and advanced manufacturing research facility, and will focus initially on the key design and manufacturing aspects of investment casting relating to aerospace and other industrial sectors. It will also work in education and research with a variety of other partners in the UK and internationally.
The new facility will offer the opportunity for the University and Rolls-Royce to build upon their existing relationship with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), which is also located at Ansty Park.
Professor David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, said: “The breaking of ground symbolises the first step in our bold and ambitious approach in the construction of this unique facility, which will build on the University’s excellent track-record in casting, materials, engineering and manufacturing research, and will continue to strengthen the relationship between the University and Rolls-Royce.”
Ric Parker, Director of Research and Technology at Rolls-Royce said: “The joint investment by Rolls-Royce in the High Temperature Research Centre is part of the Company’s existing technology investment plans. It demonstrates our commitment to world-class technology and infrastructure to deliver our promises to our customers. It symbolises our determination to work with top-class universities, like Birmingham, as part of our University Technology Centre network.
“The High Temperature Research Centre further strengthens our strategic partnership with the University of Birmingham and will focus on the development of Turbine investment casting technologies, which are critical to the future success of Rolls-Royce products. This Centre will concentrate our research on one of the hottest and most challenging components in our engines.”
The High Temperature Research will be operated by the University of Birmingham.
