This collaboration is underpinned by a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The work outlined in the MoU will increase opportunities for collaboration between UK businesses and academia through the application of materials chemistry. Innovative solutions to global challenges can be brought to market at a reduced risk by combining the complementary facilities, expertise and networks of each organisation.
Royce is the UK’s national institute for advanced materials research and innovation, established to accelerate the invention and adoption of new materials systems, enhance industrial productivity and competitiveness. The institute's mission is to enable national materials research fore-sighting, collaboration and strategy; provide access to the latest facilities and capability; catalyse industrial collaboration and exploitation of materials research, and foster materials science skills development, innovation training and outreach.
Under the new MoU, CPI and KCMC will work closely with Royce and UK companies to help establish science-based collaborations. CPI will use its considerable expertise and facilities to help companies scale-up the production of new materials and products developed in collaboration with Royce academics.
Royce’ is developing a UK-wide network of academic champions based within each Royce partner university, developing technology to address various global challenges. These include the development of new biomedical devices, efforts to increase the sustainability of plastics, and the development of energy-efficient devices. The challenges addressed align with key national strategies, such as the UK zero-carbon 2050 target.
Prof David Knowles, CEO at the Henry Royce Institute, said: “It’s an exciting time to join forces with KCMC and CPI. The role of materials in solving national and global challenges is now more important than ever. Together we can provide innovative companies the support they need to bring real solutions to market.”
John Conti-Ramsden, Director of KCMC, said: “Materials chemistry is a critical enabler for the development of advanced materials, so it’s timely to build these links between our research partners, industry networks and the Henry Royce Institute.”
Nick Johnson, Commercial Director at CPI, said: “Collaboration is crucial for advancing the development and use of advanced materials, and for solving some of the most pressing societal and environmental challenges facing industry today. Through this collaboration with the Henry Royce Institute, we hope to make even greater progress in bringing together the right businesses, academics and other industry stakeholders to tackle these challenges.”
