Research at six new centres will aim to boost manufacturing in the UK

The UK Universities and Science minister Jo Johnson has announced the creation of six new research hubs, each costing £10 million, in a bid to improve the UK’s manufacturing capabilities.

Centres based at six universities around the UK – the universities of Cardiff, Huddersfield, Nottingham, Sheffield, Strathclyde and University College London – will focus on new manufacturing technologies including 3D printing and composite materials.

The announcement follows the government’s promise to increase R&D spending by up to £2 billion a year by 2020–21, which was confirmed in November’s Autumn Statement.

‘Developing new innovative manufacturing techniques will help UK industry create new products, explore more business opportunities and ensure the UK becomes more competitive and productive,’ Johnson said when announcing the new centres. ‘This investment will lay the foundations to allow industry and our world-leading universities to thrive for years to come.’