The Henry Royce Institute has designed the forum to help SMEs developing advanced materials connect with the UK’s largest portfolio of equipment and expertise in advanced materials research, simplifying and facilitating their route to commercialisation.
The first Royce Materials Accelerator Forum will be hosted at the National Graphene Institute in Manchester and will welcome SMEs, funders, advisors and supporters from across the country. This forum is the first in a series of proposed events and will be a way for the community of SMEs to connect with leading academics and innovators.
A flagship for the accelerated discovery and development of new materials systems, the Royce represents nine founding partners across the UK. These include the universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield and Imperial College London, as well as the National Nuclear Library and the UK Atomic Energy Authority. Each partner champions a core research area and works collaboratively with the other institutions to share their facilities and expertise. The breadth of research areas includes health and medicine, electrification of transport, improving electrical devices and safer air travel.
Royce Chief Scientist, Regius Professor Philip Withers, says: “Start-ups and SMEs are a driving force for innovation in materials in the UK, but it can be difficult for them to afford and access scientific support, particularly if they don’t have networks within universities and other research organisations. The Royce wants to provide SMEs with open-access to the research capabilities typical of a large multinational company. Our facilities can be accessed at reasonable rates by SMEs, and we also provide funding for proof-of-concept research projects.”
Through their extensive network of contacts, including SMEs utilising materials chemistry in the development of advanced materials, KCMC says it can complement the existing arrangements for business engagement at the Royce. KCMC has worked with the University of Manchester for more than nine years, helping it to establish and deliver mutually beneficial collaborations with companies. According to KCMC, this relationship means it can support the interaction of the Institute with companies across a number of industrial sectors.
Matthew Davis, Communications and Engagement Manager at the Henry Royce Institute, says: “The Materials Accelerator Forum is an opportunity for SMEs to build their network and find out how to access funding and support. By the end of the event, SMEs will have learnt about the opportunities available at the Royce and understand more about accelerating their innovations from discovery to application.”
Click here for more information about the event.
