World’s biggest electronics group develops in UK

Leading Japan-based manufacturer Murata has chosen the School of Chemistry at the University of Manchester, England, to form an R&D collaboration, with help from the area’s enterprise development agency.

“Japan is the second largest Asian supplier of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects to the UK,” said a spokesperson. “It remains the most significant investor from Asia and continues to supply world-class innovation through high quality projects.

“In 2008/09, Japan contributed 81 new projects and created 1,405 jobs, the sixth largest FDI source to the UK. The Murata company is a major employer in Asia and has more than 33,000 staff.”

In 2008/09, Japan contributed 81 new projects and created 1,405 jobs, the sixth largest FDI source to the UK

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the agency’s overseas team based in Japan, together with leading government agency UK Trade & Investment, have worked closely with Murata to secure this partnership for the north-west since 2007 after the company indicated an interest in forming an R&D nanotechnology collaboration with a UK university.

After detailed discussions with the NWDA and Professor Paul O’Brien and his research team in the School of Chemistry, the company chose Manchester University as the academic institution with which they wished to form this partnership.

Mark Hughes, NWDA executive director of economic development, said: “This research collaboration is great news for the University of Manchester and testimony to the strength of the region’s reputation for research and development. The agency has been working closely with Murata for some time to secure this for the region and I am pleased that work has now begun on the project which may lead to further investment by Murata.”

Responding, Murata’s senior corporate adviser Yukio Sakabe said: “We, at Murata, feel very happy and honoured to be able to start collaboration works with the University of Manchester, with help from the NWDA. I am convinced that new technology and business in the field of nanotechnology are realised in future from this project collaborating with basic science of the university and engineering of Murata.”

Paul O’Brien, professor of inorganic materials at the university, added: “I very much welcome this collaboration with Murata which provides access to skills and equipment in Japan and training for a Japanese scientist in some leading-edge aspects of nanotechnology in my laboratories.”

The NWDA leads the economic development and regeneration of England’s north-west area and is responsible for supporting business growth and encouraging investment, matching skills provision to employer needs, creating the conditions for economic growth, connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure, and promoting the region’s quality of life.

UK Trade & Investment is the government’s international business development agency, supporting companies in the UK doing business internationally and overseas enterprises seeking to establish a market footprint in the UK. It says the integrated services it offers bring together a network of business-sector specialists and support teams in more than 170 British embassies and Foreign & Commonwealth Office posts overseas, as well as key experts in government departments across the UK.