A consortium in West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester has been awarded £22.6m from the Government’s £127m Strength in Places Fund.
It is just 1 of 5 major projects which will be backed by the research and development fund. Each has been selected on the basis of the “high likelihood of societal benefit and accelerating regional economic growth.”
The Advanced Machinery and Productivity Initiative is a consortium of partners, including the Universities of Salford, Manchester, Leeds and Huddersfield, industry, local government and the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
“We are delighted but not surprised to have been one of the few HEIs to be selected to receive this prestigious funding; our leading role as a partner in AMPI is based on an unrivalled track-record of excellence in fundamental and applied AI and robotics research; we are excited to the prospect of working in close collaboration with our industry, local government, and university partners to deliver the goal to make the North West a world-leading manufacturing hub,” stated Professor Joe Sweeney, Dean of the School of Science, Engineering and Environment.
“Our long history of research achievements in autonomous technology and robotics has led us to be a leading partner in this high-profile research initiative. Our research is already providing innovation in several vital industry sectors, including automotive, aerospace, and food production industries, as well as providing real-world support for health and social care. This is testament to our high standing in the area, and is great news for the University, giving us a unique opportunity to help modernise the manufacturing sector to meet the challenges facing business in the 21st-century, by introducing innovative and sophisticated automated and autonomous robotic systems to provide the manufacturing platforms of the future.”
AMPI will use Salford’s research in autonomous and advanced robotics systems, to provide practical and innovative solutions to “key societal challenges.”
