Research grant to boost sustainable materials for manufacturing

A £10.3m grant awarded to researchers today will be used to find safer, more sustainable alternatives to the raw materials relied upon in the manufacturing industries.


Provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the grant aims to help the manufacturing industries replace the use of raw materials that are “rare, expensive, difficult to source, and subject to regulation”.

According to the EPSRC, the energy, automotive, aerospace, and construction industries, amongst others, will benefit from this investment.

Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, said: “As one of the eight great technologies of the future, Advanced Materials will ensure safer and more sustainable development of resources to boost the capability of UK manufacturing.

“This investment in research will help keep the UK ahead in the global race for exciting manufacturing innovations,” said Willetts.

EPSRC chief executive David Delpy added: “Through the development and deployment of improved materials, processes and products that will come from this research, UK industries will be able to create wealth and new jobs, whilst at the same time tackling the societal and environmental challenges that resulted from the use of the original materials which were often rare and difficult to refine.”

Leigh Stringer

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