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Government invests £7.6m in Manchester technology research

The University of Manchester has secured a total of £7.6m from a £85m Government investment through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Announced by the Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, the money was distributed between 20 universities up and down the country to support research in key technologies.

The Government hopes to further research in Robotics and Autonomous systems, Advanced Materials and Grid-scale energy storage.

University of Manchester researched secured £4.3m from a £30m pot for an advanced materials scheme called On the Nano-engineering of Surfaces in Demanding Environments (ON-SIDE).

A further £3.3m was raised for a joint venture with the University of Liverpool from £30m set aside for grid scale energy storage, which will fund a Manchester-Liverpool advanced grid-scale energy storage R&D facility.

The Government also distributed nearly £25m to robotics and autonomous systems projects between different UK universities, in an investment they hope will support key sectors in the economy.

Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts said: “For Britain to get ahead in the global race we have to back emerging technologies and ensure our universities have the latest equipment.

“This capital investment will help scientists make new discoveries and take their research through to commercial success. It will drive growth and support the Government’s industrial strategy.”

Other Northern universities to receive funding included the University of Leeds, the University of Sheffield, Newcastle University and the University of Hull.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .