Construction begins on the Manchester hub for the Henry Royce Institute
14 Dec 2017
The building housing the national body for promoting research and applications in advanced materials will be a prominent new landmark on the Manchester skyline at 46 metres high
Based at the heart of the University’s campus, the Henry Royce Institute for materials science research and innovation will bring together world-leading academics from across the UK to work closely with industry to ensure commercialisation of fundamental research.
The development is a key part of the University’s ten-year Campus Masterplan to create world-class facilities in Manchester.
The new facility will be based at the University to provide a research focus for the Royce’s founding partners, including The University of Sheffield; The University of Oxford; University of Liverpool; University of Leeds; University of Cambridge; Imperial College London; the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA); and the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL).
The Manchester building will enable a wide array of ground-breaking research to be undertaken including investigations into biomedical materials which are at the cutting-edge of regenerative medicine and prosthetics; nuclear materials to support the energy sector; materials systems for demanding environments; and 2D materials which, for example, can be used in inks for printable electronics, enhanced composites, in fuel cells and super capacitators which outperform traditional batteries.
“This new flagship building will be a national beacon of research excellence in advanced materials - not only providing a centre for scientists and engineers to lead on cutting-edge research but will also help businesses to apply this new knowledge into technologies for commercial use,” said Regius Professor of Materials at The University of Manchester, Phil Withers, Chief Scientist for the Royce.
President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, said: “Building upon The University of Manchester’s already outstanding reputation for scientific research, the Royce will enable the UK to grow its world-leading research and innovation base in advanced materials science and technology. It is a great addition to our campus.”
Diana Hampson, Director of Estates and Facilities at the University, added: “This is one of our major capital projects forming an important part of our vision for the campus and will benefit from its location, close to the National Graphene Institute and the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre.”
This development is a central pillar in the Government’s Industrial Strategy and creation of the Northern Powerhouse. The Royce hub is expected to be completed and the building fully operational by early 2020.