Advanced materials funding for West Midlands

The Science City Advanced Materials programme, which received the funding from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands and the European Research Development Fund, will establish a virtual research base for creation and development of new materials.

Innovation is absolutely key to driving forward the West Midlands economy

Nick Paul

Chairman

Advantage West Midlands

Sectors including healthcare, energy, aerospace and environmental technologies are likely to benefit from the research, with the virtual centre to concentrate on developing advances such more efficient materials for batteries, increased data storage capacity for computers and biodegradable materials which can help bone and tissue to regrow.

Nick Paul, Chairman of Advantage West Midlands, commented: "Innovation is absolutely key to driving forward the West Midlands economy and this project will also help to create high level jobs and further cement the West Midlands' reputation as a lead centre for advanced materials.

Industry will also be involved in the research collaboration, in order to give firms more access to the knowledge which is discovered by the centre.

The programme is being funded as part of the Birmingham Science City initiative, which aims to further research in the city and build links between academia and industry.

Recently, the two universities were awarded almost £20 million under the initiative to take new medical developments into clinical trials, to speed up the deployment of innovative techniques in healthcare.