East Midlands secures £20m for nuclear, aerospace and clean technology projects

A £20m innovation funding package has been awarded to the East Midlands to support four projects targeting nuclear supply chains, aerospace technology, advanced manufacturing and clean technology businesses.

The five-year programme is expected to attract at least £36.1m in private sector investment, with projections suggesting it could generate up to £340m in regional economic activity and support the creation of 1,775 jobs.

The funding comes through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF), a £500m UK government programme delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) has secured the investment through a partnership with industry and the universities of Derby, Nottingham, Nottingham Trent and Loughborough.

The four projects will focus on helping regional manufacturers access opportunities in the nuclear supply chain, developing technologies for aerospace applications, supporting smaller businesses entering new supply chains and accelerating the development of clean technology companies.

The programme supporting SMEs has also been allocated £3.2m through the East Midlands Investment Zone, which is backed by £160m of government funding.

Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward said: “The East Midlands is a region of innovators and has been for hundreds of years: we are the birthplace of the modern factory, an innovation that powered the Industrial Revolution and reshaped the world.”

“Our ambitions for the innovators of today are just as high, but with a different focus: clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and inclusive growth. This funding will ensure that ambitious businesses with the power to change the world can establish, grow, and thrive here. They will develop cutting-edge products, design new manufacturing processes, and start new companies: building an economy which is grounded in what this region needs for the future.”

The University of Nottingham will lead three of the projects, drawing on its research in advanced manufacturing, transport decarbonisation and industrial technology.

Loughborough University is involved through INFINITY, an advanced manufacturing initiative intended to develop capabilities relevant to the nuclear, aerospace and other industrial sectors.

Professor Tom Rodden, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Nottingham, said: “We are proud to be leading three major projects funded through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund and play a role in the East Midlands becoming a global leader in clean technology innovation. We are bringing our strengths and expertise in advanced manufacturing, transport decarbonisation and industry-focused research and partnership to accelerate the development of technologies that can create growth, attract investment and deliver real-world impact.”

The projects are not yet operational. The partnership is working with UKRI to prepare the investments for delivery, with launches expected in the coming months.

The funding is intended to help East Midlands businesses develop manufacturing capabilities, enter new industrial supply chains and commercialise technologies in markets where demand for clean energy and advanced engineering is growing.

TechSparx has previously covered the East Midlands’ wider technology skills agenda, including the appointment of IN4 Group to deliver the TechFirst programme across the region. That three-year initiative aims to reach around 45,000 secondary school pupils, complementing the new innovation funding’s focus on developing regional industries and employment opportunities.

Image source: East Midlands Combined Authority