£22m new funding to advance the development of lightweight, super-strong materials for cars and planes
Fri 27 November 2009
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The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced £22m of new funding to advance the development of composite materials used to reduce weight and add strength to aeroplane wings and cars. BIS says that the market for high-value composites is currently worth about £1bn to the UK economy.
Making the announcement during a visit to Williams Formula One's Oxfordshire HQ, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: “Today’s new strategy will help us to exploit the potential of composite materials which could help us lower carbon emissions, make cost savings by making things which last longer and boost our position globally making the UK the place to produce and develop composites. Government has an irreplaceable role in ensuring that the right conditions are in place to support long term growth. This means investing in the country’s high-tech low carbon future including supporting and investing composites.”
The funding is made up of £16m for a new National Composites Centre in the Bristol area (£12m from central Government, £4m from the South West Regional Development Agency); £5m for the winning firm’s to develop new composites manufacturing techniques (to be won via the Technology Strategy Board’s new ‘Grand Challenge’ competition) and £1m upfront funding to help develop challenge bids.
At their simplest level composites are made from at least two materials that together produce a material with much improved properties than its constituent parts.
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