On a visit to The University of Manchester, Chris Skidmore, Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation was shown the Henry Royce Institute Hub Building as it nears completion.
Speaking with the Royce Chief Scientist Prof Phil Withers, Chris heard about the Institute’s national network of equipment and expertise including the world-leading Henry Mosley X-Ray Imaging Facility based in Manchester.
This formed part of a wider agenda touring Manchester’s advanced materials capability including the National Graphene Institute, the Manchester Institute for Biotechnology and the site of the forthcoming ID-Manchester. Commenting on the impressive advanced materials campus Chris said:
The University of Manchester is doing amazing research in areas like x-ray imaging systems and the super material graphene. Outstanding university research like this will help build our reputation as a global science superpower while growing our economy, and it was a privilege to witness it first-hand.
In transit to the National Graphene Institute, (which houses a range of Royce equipment including the Ultra High Vacuum Suite and NanoIR), Chris was shown the Henry Royce Institute Hub Building as it reaches to final stages of construction. Following the visit Chris said on Twitter:
At @OfficialUoM today- where the new £105m government funded @RoyceInstitute is nearing completion- the building looks fantastic pic.twitter.com/ccAB9rugK6
— Chris Skidmore (@CSkidmoreUK) January 17, 2020
Prior to visiting Manchester, Chris has also toured facilities at the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield including the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre demonstrating how academia, industry, and government work together to tackle manufacturing challenges and drive forward sectors including aerospace, energy, and construction.
The construction of the Henry Royce Institute Hub Building will reach completion in March 2020. Following the building handover staff and equipment will move into the building. We look forward to welcoming Chris the building as it opens its doors as a meeting place for the national advanced materials community to come, collaborate and solidify the UK’s position as a world-leader for materials science and engineering.
