A leading North East engineering entrepreneur is helping to bring forward the next generation of industrial pioneers after being appointed to a role at Newcastle University.
Matt Boyle, former president of Gateshead electric vehicle innovators Sevcon, now BorgWarner, has taken up a new challenge as professor of practice in engineering at the university.
Prof Boyle will provide the leadership required of the university in its national role as lead for the Driving the Electric Revolution Innovation Centre (DER-IC) project.
The university said his wealth of experience and connections within the º£½ÇÊÓƵ power electronics, machines and drives (PEMD) sector will be invaluable in helping to secure academic-industrial relationships which are central to the university’s aims and objectives and a critically important part of securing the success of the DER-IC project.
Prof Boyle has more than 30 years of experience working for engineering companies, including as chief executive of NASDAQ-listed Sevcon, which was acquired by BorgWarner in 2017. He currently runs his own company, Collingwood Solutions.
He is currently the executive chair of the Driving the Electric Revolution Innovation Centre (DER-IC) project, of which Newcastle University is the lead partner, overseeing four innovation centres collaborating with industry, to serve up faster joint R&D of power electronics, machines and drives for the next generation of carbon neutral cars, planes, trains and ships.
He is also chair of the North East Automotive Alliance.
He said: “I am delighted to be joining Newcastle University to help deliver this nationally important project. The university has an enviable reputation in the PEMD community worldwide, gained through its tremendous faculty and work that continues today. We are working now to exploit this research into the manufacture of PEMD in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ.â€
Prof Boyle was one of the team that developed the Stephenson Challenge, working with industry across the country, Innovate º£½ÇÊÓƵ, and other partners, to get the project funded, which was ultimately re-branded as Driving the Electric Revolution (DER).
Over the last two years he has been working closely with Innovate º£½ÇÊÓƵ, industry and universities to bring together the º£½ÇÊÓƵ PEMD community into one network, amid moves to propel º£½ÇÊÓƵ manufacturing to the forefront of efforts to tackle climate change.
Prof Chris Day, vice-chancellor and president of Newcastle University, said: “We are delighted to welcome Matt on board in the position as Professor of Practice in Engineering. Having worked on the DER project in partnership with the university, we know that he brings his breadth of regional and international experience in the electric vehicle, engineering and innovation sectors which will benefit both our academic research, and industry partnerships.â€
Prof Boyle is the also the chair of the Common Room of the Great North and was previously a board member of the North East England Chamber of Commerce. He and was awarded an OBE in 2018 for his services to engineering and skills.
Prof Will Drury, º£½ÇÊÓƵRI challenge director, Driving the Electric Revolution said: “It is exciting that Matt will be spending his time overseeing the £33m Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centre (DER-IC) activities within Newcastle and working closely with the delivery team across the four locations and closely with the º£½ÇÊÓƵRI ISCF Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge Team.
“With his significant industry background in the Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) space I am sure he will bring a wealth of knowledge to his activities.â€
Prof Phil Wright, pro vice chancellor of Newcastle's faculty of science, agriculture and engineering added: “The faculty of science, agriculture and engineering welcomes Matt Boyle as a professor of practice in the school of engineering. This is a new role within the university, to which he will bring both his practical and cutting edge innovative and industry-informed experience.â€
