creating the a483/a55 knowledge industry corridor

Creating the A483/A55 Knowledge Industry Corridor

Proposals by Glyndŵr University to stimulate the knowledge based economy of the region

Presentation to: The Mersey Dee Alliance - Strategy Group

24 April 2009

About Glyndŵr University

• Full university status July 2008

• Strong technological tradition since 1887

• Very high graduate employability rate (94%)

• Judged by RAE to have “world leading” research in Materials Science and ICT

• Close collaboration with industries in Wrexham and Deeside

Strategic Direction

• Over-arching strategic goal to support economic and social development– Meeting the needs of employers central to our

strategy– Many courses delivered in partnership with

industry and the public sector– Applied research jointly with/for industry– Aiming to establish/develop centres of new

knowledge based economic activity along the A483/A55.

Our A483/A55 Vision• To create centres of

innovation along a new Knowledge Industry Corridor

• A proactive solution to help sustain regional industries and deal with the impact of the recession

A483 / A55

St. Asaph:OpTIC Technium(Opto-electronics)

Northop:Proposed Biosciences Centre

Broughton:Proposed Composites Centre

Wrexham: Centres for Creative Industries & E-Health

More detail on each site…

ST. ASAPH: OPTIC TECHNIUM

OpTIC: Current Status

• University has taken-over the assets and management of the OpTIC Technium

• Currently hosts 3 Glyndŵr research teams:– Centre for Modern Optics– Centre for Solar Energy Research– Polymerization Reaction Engineering Centre

• Plus teams from UCL, Cambridge and Cranfield collaborating in EPSRC funded IKC with OpTIC Glyndŵr

Future Prospects / Activities

• Currently building prototype mirror segments for the largest telescope in the world –the ESO ELT

• Significant opportunities to develop further opto-electronics businesses in Phase 2 development– 3D holographic displays, advanced

photovoltaics, fibre optic communications & related technologies

NORTHOP:PROPOSED BIOSCIENCES CENTRE

Northop: Our Vision• New partnership between the University,

the Welsh College of Horticulture, and Deeside College of FE

• Aims:– to develop centre for animal health, vet

sciences and animal behavioural sciences• partnership with Liverpool University

– to create an International Research Centre in Hydrocolloids and Functional Biopolymers and stimulate spin-off industries

Hydrocolloids

• Complex polymers derived from plant sources– acacia trees & others

• Many potential uses– food stabilizers, wound dressings, oil well

lubricants, adhesives

• Sustainable chemical engineering (i.e. complex chemicals from renewable non-oil sources)

Investments to date

• San Ei Gen (Japan) have invested £1.6M with us in R&D

• Other major research grants obtained – e.g. £800k for joint Glyndŵr Univ, UCL, Durham Univ.

research on hydrocolloid muds for oil industry

• Need significant further investment to set up the international Centre at Northop– Possible major investment by the Japanese if

sufficient initial investment can be obtained locally

BROUGHTON: PROPOSED COMPOSITES CENTRE

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a9/A350xwb.jpg

Composite Materials Engineering• Composites = strong lightweight materials• Next generation airliners: Airbus A350• We are developing:

– Higher level skills programmes and degrees in composites engineering

– MSc in “lean manufacturing” with Airbus– Joint MSc and PhD composites programme

with NWCC (Glyndŵr is a full member of NWCC by invitation of Manchester University)

• Building on existing successful FDSc

Lancaster

LiverpoolManchester

Glyndŵr

Bolton

UNIVERSITYCONSORTIUM

Our Vision

• Advanced Composite Materials Centre near Broughton:– Research & development – Knowledge Transfer Centre – Business incubation Centre – Graduate skills training

Key benefits of the Centre

• Keep Airbus and supply chain at forefront of the technology and guarantee 8000+ jobs

• Of equal importance, to stimulate the growth of new products and companies in the composites materials area– marine, automotive, sports, defence,

construction

WREXHAM: GLYNDŴR UNIVERSITY MAIN CAMPUS NEW DEVELOPMENTS

- CREATIVE INDUSTRIES- E-HEALTH DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Creative Industries at Wrexham

• Constructing new Creative Industries Building– interdisciplinary academic centre: art and

design, computing, engineering, media– aim also to have a Creative Industries

Innovation Centre• potential areas of new economic activity e.g.

computer games, digital fashion design, animation, CGI

E-Health: The Vision

• Using latest ICT to support the ageing population and rural communities– Ageing population a major issue for the health

service (and governments worldwide)

• Building on state of the art mobile technologies & existing Glyndŵr EU project

• Developing strong links with “Informing Healthcare” (NHS IT Programme for Wales)

Complementary actions

• University establishing new Leadership and Management Centre on the Wrexham Industrial Estate

• Intend to replicate this at St. Asaph, and possibly establish satellite centres at Northop and Broughton– e.g. to offer MBAs in Technology

Management

GLYNDŴR

UNIVERSITY

OPTIC GLYNDŴR:OPTO-ELECTRONICS

NORTHOP:BIOSCIENCES

BROUGHTON:COMPOSITES

WREXHAM:E-HEALTH

NORTH WESTCOMPOSITESCENTRE

WREXHAM:CREATIVE INDUSTRIES

DARESBURY:SCIENCE & INNOVATIONCAMPUS:Biomedical,Chemicals,Energy,Nano-technology

Innovation Connectivity

In Conclusion

• Glyndŵr University aims to lead the economic and social development of NE Wales -with strong links to NW England

• University investing in key personnel, science and technologies, & management devt centres

• Support needed for new Innovation Centres to create a new Knowledge Industry Corridor

• We welcome engagement with key regional bodies to take this forward.

Diolch yn fawr. Thank you.

creating the a483/a55 knowledge industry corridor

Documents

glyndr research teams

international research

nwcc glyndr

world leading research

international centre

public sectorapplied

liverpool university

optic techniumoptic