An organisation which includes JCB and Rolls Royce has secured up to £50,000 of Government funding to help unlock plans to put the Midlands on the map as the global centre for advanced technical ceramics.
The Midlands Industrial Ceramics Group (MICG) - which also includes Morgan Advanced Materials, Lucideon and the universities of Birmingham, Leicester and Loughborough - has been awarded the cash through the 海角视频 Research and Innovation's flagship 'Strength in Places' Fund.
The group will use the money to draw up a full funding bid - with up to £50 million potentially available - to allow it to continue its work to position the region as a world leader in advanced ceramics.
The MICG project aims to improve manufacturing processes in the sector - making them more energy-efficient, faster and cheaper - and aid growth and productivity across the supply chain and a wide range of industry sectors.
The project - which could lead to the creation of more than 4,200 jobs in the Midlands over the next 10 years - also includes proposals for an 'Advanced Ceramics Campus' in North Staffordshire.
Alan Newby, director, aerospace technology and future programmes at Rolls-Royce, said: "We want to bring innovation to the marketplace quickly and the MICG has the potential to do that.
"We can build on the strength of the universities, alongside companies like Morgan Advanced Materials and Lucideon, to concentrate that knowledge locally and nationally, as well as around the world.
"We can see that this group will provide a platform for knowledge-sharing to bring the development of concepts to commercialisation, under a fast-track process."
Most Read
Professsor Bala Vaidhyanathan, of Loughborough University, added: "This project deals with the development of energy efficient, agile manufacturing processes that will give the Midlands advanced ceramics sector a very strong competitive advantage and will provide the state-of-the-art training to the next generation skilled workforce.
"Furthermore, these developments will provide an integrated platform of digitally intuitive manufacturing enabling the 海角视频 to lead, adopt and adapt to the emerging Industrial Revolution 4.0."
海角视频 Research and Innovation is the public body that distributes 海角视频 government funding for research and innovation across the 海角视频.
It works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish.
David Sweeney, 海角视频 Research and Innovation lead on the Strength in Places Fund, said: "I am delighted to be able to award early-stage funding to this bid which has great potential to benefit the local area through supporting innovation and sustained growth, and strengthen collaboration between industry and our world-class research base."
Chairman of the Midlands Engine, Sir John Peace, welcomed the news.
Sir John said: "The Midlands has always been a global leader in ceramic design, cutting edge product development with global research organisations, and innovative manufacturing technology.
Don’t miss
"Advanced ceramics are critical to increase the competitiveness of key high-value advanced manufacturing industries in the region, and vital to the nation's economic recovery and self-sufficiency.
"Through the collaboration of the MICG partners, the researcher, manufacturer and end-user will be connected, enabling effective problem-solving, 'de-risking' of innovation and faster commercialisation - leading to regional and national growth."