Digital research lab to be established

The Warwick Digital Laboratory, based at the University of Warwick, is a £50-million project to bring together scientists and industry members to carry out research in sectors such as manufacturing, health and security, according to the Birmingham Post.

Aiming to increase the transfer of knowledge between the academic and business worlds, the laboratory will specialise in computer design to create new products and streamline production methods.

Digital manufacturing and 3D visualisation techniques, which will allow virtual representations of items to be created and manipulated before physical production beings, will be a key activity of the facility.

My ambition is to make this a state of the art facility for the West Midlands that will be an icon for the future. It will be a focal point for research excellence

Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya

Director and Founder

WMG Group

In addition, focus will also be given to mass customisation techniques, which will allow customers to buy individualised products at a similar cost mass produced goods.

The Warwick Digital Laboratory is being developed by research and education group WMG and is being constructed alongside the International Manufacturing Centre.

Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, Director and founder of WMG, told the newspaper: "My ambition is to make this a state of the art facility for the West Midlands that will be an icon for the future. It will be a focal point for research excellence.