Science Minister announces £65 million research programme for WMG at University of Warwick
Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts has announced today, Thursday 10th July 2014, a £65 million pound research programme for WMG at the University of Warwick in partnership with Jaguar Land Rover
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The Advanced Propulsion Research Laboratory (APRL) will link people, research and world-leading infrastructure, to create next-generation technologies in the propulsion systems that are central to the future competitiveness of the automotive industry.
Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, the Chairman of WMG (Warwick Manufacturing Group), said
“Industry faces unprecedented challenges as the world moves to a low-carbon technology model, reinforced by escalating energy costs and legislation imposing strict emissions limits. It is forecast that by 2040 almost none of Europe’s new cars will be powered solely by a traditional engine. The Advanced Propulsion Research Laboratory will lead research to address these arising needs, transforming the research and innovation landscape and positioning the UK as a leading innovator in propulsion systems.”
The APRL is one of three projects, announced today by the Minister for Universities and Science, from the third round of the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF). This brings the total number of successful projects across the three funding rounds to 25. Universities have received £350 million in public funding, and have secured at least double that amount of investment from businesses or charities, together delivering more than £1.3 billion of new funding for research.
The University of Warwick and WMG’s industrial partner in the project is Jaguar Land Rover. The total value of the APRL project is over £65 million. The UKRPIF award is £14.5 million with further co-investment of £51 million
Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, said:
‘These three new exciting partnerships worth £183 million will help underscore our Universities’ world-leading research in areas like battling diseases to developing the next generation of advanced aircraft.
‘Forging strong business and academic relationships like those through the Research Partnership Investment Fund remains vital to reinforcing the UK’s reputation as a global leader in research and innovation.’
Madeleine Atkins, Chief Executive of HEFCE, said:
‘The Research Partnership Investment Fund is a considerable success and I am delighted to announce funding for three projects each of which will make a substantial positive impact on our society. Novel drug therapies, more efficient aircraft and the next generation of cars: through these projects, universities are again showing their major contributions to the economy and social prosperity. I look forward to announcing another group of UKRPIF projects in the near future.’
Note for Editors
The three new projects announced by the minister are:
WMG at the University of Warwick, Advanced Propulsion Research Laboratory (APRL)
The Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease
Cranfield Aerospace Integration Research Centre
About UKRPIF
The UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF) supports research facilities in universities by attracting investment in research, and strengthening its contribution to economic growth.
UKRPIF is managed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), in collaboration with the other UK higher education funding bodies, with proposals assessed by an independent assessment panel.
UKRPIF was launched with £100 million of public finance in May 2012. In response to the large number of high-quality bids, the Government tripled the public support to £300 million in autumn 2012 to fund a second round of the special funding initiative.
In June 2013, the Government announced a further two rounds of UKRPIF, extending it to 2016-17 and making available an additional £200 million to be allocated over two years, taking the total government investment in the fund to £500 million.
The remaining set of successful projects from this round of UKRPIF will be announced shortly. A further £100 million of funding is available for the fourth round of the competition, which will be launched in the coming weeks.
HEFCE has allocated additional funding to support three projects from the latest round. This brings the total number of projects to 25 and the final commitment to £350.5 million, levering £133.7 million from business and charities and bringing the total investment to £1.34 billion.
Further details of UKRPIF are available on the HEFCE web-site at www.hefce.ac.uk/whatwedo/rsrch/howfundr/ukrpif/.
For further for information for media please contact:
Peter Dunn, Director of Press and Policy, University of Warwick,
UK Tel: 024 76 523708 Mobile 07767 655860 email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk
Or
Lisa Barwick, WMG, University of Warwick Tel: 024 76 524721 or 07824 540845 L.Barwick@warwick.ac.uk
HEFCE: Philip Walker, Tel 0117 931 7363, e-mail p.walker@hefce.ac.uk
BIS: Emma Brown, Tel 020 7215 5981, e-mail emma.brown@bis.gsi.gov.uk
PR201 PJD 10th July 2014
Further Information:
Peter Dunn, Director of Press and Policy, University of Warwick,
UK Tel: 024 76 523708 Mobile 07767 655860 email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk