The University of Manchester has helped secure major investment through UK Research and Innovation’s Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, with a significant share supporting a project which will see the development of the Atom Valley Innovation District.
Building on the success of the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS), the Henry Royce Institute (Royce) and partners will play a vital role in the project, accelerating the development and adoption of sustainable materials innovation across Greater Manchester.
The Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF) is a flagship UK government programme – delivered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – investing up to £500 million to strengthen regional innovation economies across the country.
At the heart of the LIPF investment announced by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority is a £16.4 million programme to accelerate innovation within the Atom Valley Innovation District (AVID). The programme supports businesses to develop, commercialise and scale the next generation of sustainable materials technologies, strengthening AVID’s position as a nationally significant advanced materials and manufacturing cluster.
The investment will also help to attract further private investment into the region, support business growth and create the conditions for sustainable materials innovation to move more quickly from research into real-world application.
CEAMS, a collaborative programme with Royce as a partner, sits at the centre of this ambition. By combining world-leading research capability, industry expertise and regional ambition CEAMS has already accelerated the development and adoption of sustainable materials solutions across 46 projects, helping businesses turn materials innovation into commercial opportunities.
The latest investment will further embed CEAMS within the wider AVID ecosystem and the emerging Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Centre (SMMC). This will create an environment where research, industry and investment work together to strengthen supply chains, support business growth and reinforce the UK’s position as a global leader in advanced materials innovation and sustainability.
Dr Ania Jolly, Royce Head of Research and Business Engagement said:
“This investment is a significant opportunity to build on CEAMS’ success and accelerate the adoption of sustainable materials innovation across Greater Manchester.
By bringing together expertise from academia, research and technology organisations and industry, we are creating the conditions for businesses to develop and commercialise the solutions needed for a more sustainable future.
“We are grateful to colleagues across all CEAMS partner organisations whose expertise, commitment and collaboration have made this possible. Through AVID and the SMMC, we can strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in advanced materials innovation while delivering tangible benefits for businesses and communities.”
The AVID project will be delivered in partnership with the Rochdale Development Agency. The delivery consortium provides access to the national advanced materials innovation ecosystem through the Henry Royce Institute, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), and High Value Manufacturing Catapult centres NCC and CPI. The University of Greater Manchester will support the delivery of industry-ready skills packages.
