Swansea University’s planned Science and Innovation Campus at Swansea Bay has been given a massive boost following the announcement of more than £50 million in research and training funding by Rolls-Royce and the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) at a national level.

The Rolls-Royce/EPSRC award to the Strategic Partnership in Structural Metallic Systems for Advanced Gas Turbine Applications, further underpins the world-leading research in structural materials carried out at the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) at Swansea University. The funding will also help secure Rolls-Royce’s involvement in the University’s Science and Innovation Campus.

The Strategic Partnership in Structural Metallic Systems for Advanced Gas Turbine Applications will harness key academic expertise via a three-way collaboration between Swansea University, Cambridge and Birmingham Universities.

Over the next ten years, the UTC at Swansea will undertake fundamental materials research necessary to improve the efficiency and environmental sustainability of gas turbine engines and help train the next generation of world-class materials scientists and metallurgical engineers in structural metallic.

Ric Parker, Director Research and Technology, Rolls-Royce said; “Materials research is a vital part of ensuring we have the technology and skills needed to produce future gas turbines that will meet our customers’ needs. We look forward to working with all three universities and building on the excellent relationship we already share with them.”

Commenting on the funding, Swansea University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard B. Davies said: “This is a historic day for Swansea University. The Rolls-Royce/EPSRC announcement is the first major announcement by a leading multi-national company, which will enable Swansea University to realise its ambition of a Science and Innovation campus. The announcement clearly demonstrates that a 21st Century campus which intermingles industrial research and development, academic research and postgraduate and undergraduate students, is being positively received by companies wanting to have a presence on the site.

“This Strategic Partnership in Structural Metallic Systems for Advanced Gas Turbine Applications builds on the long established collaboration in the field of advanced structural materials and will enable Swansea University to expand its applied research strengths in Engineering Materials which in turn will help support many small and medium-sized companies across South West Wales.

“This announcement further demonstrates the world-leading research undertaken in the School of Engineering at Swansea University and I would like to applaud my colleagues who have brought about this enhanced reputation.”

Read full story at Wales International Consortium (WIC).