Apr 15 2008
The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) and the Centre of Excellence for Nano, Micro and Photonic Systems (Cenamps), have today announced that they will merge with immediate effect in a move that reinforces the region's position as the lead driver for innovation in the UK's processing sector.
Moving forwards, CPI aims to become a national centre of international importance, with over 70 high calibre scientists, engineers and support staff. Their unique approach to stimulating market-led innovation , brings together market 'pull' from industry with technology 'push' from academia, to address the real needs of industry.
Critical to the success of CPI is their proven ability to collaborate with Industry; to work with the best talent from internationally leading research universities; and to have the facilities to scale-up innovation from the laboratory through to industrial application.
Together, the newly merged CPI will be championing four key technology areas that offer the most sustainable growth potential. They are: advanced processes, low carbon energy, functional materials and printable electronics.
CPI's CEO Nigel Perry said, "This is a highly positive move for North East England in a sector where we already have a real international presence. Processing is moving forward at a great pace and only those organisations which continually innovate and evolve will keep up with the marketplace."
Processing has been the UK's fastest growing sector over the last ten years growing at an average rate of 2.6 per cent per annum, and is now worth £70bn to the national economy. North East England's contribution is some 25 per cent of this national total, with the sector representing 30 per cent of the North East industrial base.
CPI has already been recognised as an example of best practice for its approach to market led-innovation in the recent White Paper 'Innovation Nation,' published by the Government last month.
Nigel continued, "Since being established by One NorthEast four years ago, both CPI and Cenamps have worked to connect academia and industry and encourage market-led innovation, for the benefit of the region and its businesses. In this time, the established process industry on Teesside and across the North East has been revitalised, with the region now host to three national centres in plastic electronics, nanotechnology and biotechnology."
Ian Williams, director of business & industry at One NorthEast added, "One NorthEast fully supports the merger of Cenamps and CPI and the new organisation will significantly add to the region's process industry offer; both in the UK and internationally."