The Midlands Industrial Ceramics Group (MICG) has completed the first year of a research project set to create thousands of jobs across the region over the next decade.
MICG secured £18.27m government funding, provided through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund (SIPF), in October last year, after it the group’s bid was successful in June 2021.
So far, £2.9m has been invested in equipment to create the AMRICC Centre, an open access pilot line for the advanced ceramics sector, which will be the legacy from the SIPF programme, while 17 R&D projects have been developed to continue exploring “solutions to current and future advanced ceramics challenges”.
The funding has also helped to create eight academic researcher positions, nine highly skilled positions in industry and kickstarted a cohort of materials degree apprentices within the partner companies.
The consortium was established to support and submit the Strength in Places funding bid and to position the Midlands and North Staffordshire at the centre of the global advanced ceramics industry.
Funding for the project is projected to unlock further investment from MICG’s partners, including opening-up opportunities for an advanced ceramics campus proposed for Staffordshire.
Dr Cathryn Hickey, of MICG, said: “This is a long-term strategic programme with defined aims to open-up global markets, drive innovation and harness the talents and skills of the workforce in the Midlands.
“So far, MICG networking events have attracted the attention of more than 170 advanced ceramics professionals and key stakeholders, while hours of technical discussion have helped drive the momentum of the programme through to delivery.”
www.micg.org.uk
Please click to view more articles about
News
