Plans to make region heart of advanced ceramics industry

Plans to place the region at the heart of the multi-billion-pound global advanced ceramics industry have been set out by a consortium, which includes Rolls-Royce.

Midlands Industrial Ceramics Group (MICG) recently launched a four-year research programme involving both industry and academia, at the Ceramics UK expo, held at the NEC in Birmingham.

The programme secured £18.27 million government funding provided through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund (SIPF) last year, and is the first stage of a project which could channel £80 million of investment and generate 4,200 jobs in the region over the next decade.

Membership of the MICG is made up of blue-chip companies and SMEs, as well as academic and research bodies.

It aims to drive the competitiveness and success of advanced manufacturing in the Midlands by tackling key innovation challenges, such as creating a unified process for the development and commercialisation of new and enhanced processes and products.

Ian Edmonds, of Rolls-Royce, who is chair of MICG, said: “Ceramics UK provided a great platform for MICG to celebrate the start of its SIPF programme, give visitors the opportunity to find out more about the project, and show how we are working collectively to achieve our goals.

“The advanced ceramics sector is projected to be worth £143 billion by 2023 globally, and the SIPF funding means the Midlands is well-placed to be part of it.”

Sir John Peace, chairman of the Midlands Engine Partnership, who spoke at the launch, said: “The advanced ceramics of today underpin an astonishing number of industries across the globe – aerospace, clean energy, automotive, telecoms, defence and healthcare all benefit from, and will continue to rely on, these innovative materials.

“It’s an industry in which we’re increasingly competitive – and that’s down to our region’s unrivalled industrial heritage, manufacturing expertise and renowned academic institutions.

“Our region has an opportunity to lead the way – future-fitting our historic expertise and maintaining our region’s legacy as a world-leader in ceramics.”