Rolls-Royce establishes new tech hub at university

Rolls-Royce has established a specialist laboratory at the University of Derby, which is being used to develop and evaluate new technologies.

The Rolls-Royce Technology Hub, based at the university’s Markeaton Street site, is home to two key Rolls-Royce teams drawn from Central Technology and Repair Technology, each of which has a worldwide brief.

The role of the Central Technology Department is to identify technologies which could be of use to any division of Rolls-Royce.

Mike Wingfield, Technology Hub lead at Rolls-Royce, said: “Having access to the facilities at Markeaton Street has been a game-changer for us; it has enabled us to develop technologies we’d previously not been able to progress.”

Dr Louise Richards, deputy dean of the College of Science and Engineering at the university, said: “Our partnership with Rolls-Royce provides a range of mutual benefits.”

An array of futuristic technologies are being developed and evaluated in the facility, some of which are the first of their kind in the world.

They include robotics, metrology systems, electronics and sensor development, machine vision, spectrometry, and Internet of Things.

The development of several tools in the lab has been co-founded by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, under the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme, REINSTATE.

Recently, during the university’s recent Engineering Degree Show, teams from Rolls-Royce visited to tour the laboratory.

Rolls-Royce and the university already work together on several world-class projects, including the Nuclear Skills Academy at Infinity Park.

Dr Richards said: “Rolls-Royce’s ground-breaking work in the Technology Hub provides opportunities for university staff and students to engage with and learn from innovation and research.

“We are also exploring ways to build on the success of our apprenticeships partnership to provide practical placement opportunities for our on-campus students.”

Mr Wingfield said: “We enjoy engaging with the staff and students at the university and hope to further involve many more students in our technology projects going forward. “The ability to have this involvement with the university while still being local to two of our major sites is very