Industry News

BIS:  A £50m Global Research & Technology Hub has been announced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.  The Hub will connect researchers & businesses working to commercialise the Nobel Prize winning super strong material graphene

There are Graphene centres of research excellence at Manchester, Cambridge, Lancaster, Exeter, Bath, Oxford & Durham universities and Imperial College London.  Since the original discovery of graphene at Manchester , EPSRC has invested over £16m into research funding for the area.

Press release & links ~ Graphene

BIS:  A £145m boost to improve ’s e-infrastructure has been announced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which will ‘drive growth & innovation across a range of sectors that rely heavily on computing including manufacturing, engineering and design. It will also provide industry with the latest technology and facilities, giving reassurance that Britain is a great place to do business and encouraging further private sector support’.

Press release & links

ScotGov:  Plans to replace the coal fired power station at Cockenzie in East Lothian with a high efficiency gas station have been approved by Ministers.  The new 1,000 Megawatt Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power station will create up to 1,000 jobs in demolition & construction and 50 full time positions when completed.

Natural gas is a much more efficient fuel than coal and will more than halve carbon and nitrogen dioxide emissions compared to the existing power station.  The development will be carbon capture ready and will be required to fit full carbon capture & storage technology once it is commercially & technically proven.  

 
In addition, the Scottish Government has today published a new study that will help promote the most efficient use of waste heat in generating electricity.

Press release & links

DH:  The Government has launched the first 2 National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) partnerships for early stage health research, which will usher in a new era for clinical trials - accelerating the development of innovative treatments from the lab to patients, as well as providing a real boost to the growth of the life science sector.

The new set up means that when a company wants to collaborate with the NIHR Partnerships, just one legal agreement is now required rather than having to negotiate with each NHS Trust & University.  Access to the Partnerships is via the NIHR Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure (NOCRI), providing an easy & consistent point of entry for industry.

Press release & links ~ NIHR Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure (NOCRI)

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