The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) has confirmed a government funding package of £107m for the centre to continue to develop next-generation manufacturing technologies.
The grant will reportedly enable CPI to continue its extensive record of supporting the industry and assisting products and processes to market.
The funding will cover a five-year period and will be delivered as part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult) programme, which supports UK manufacturing in the commercialisation of cutting-edge technologies.
Nigel Perry, CPI chief executive, explained to The Manufacturer that this funding is “another significant endorsement” of CPI’s work.
As well as a vote of confidence in manufacturing, the investment is also hoped to create a significant amount of highly-skilled jobs in the sector.
Perry commented: “It means we can increase the number of people we have got from 400 to just under 500, which is important.”
Perry commented on this and said that the centre are bringing “world-class scientists and engineers” to CPI, in order to fulfill their next generation manufacturing objectives.
CPI is the process manufacturing partner of the HVM Catapult network, which comprises seven centres across the UK, and works from sites across the North East.
Since the Catapults were introduced seven years ago, they have seen £7.5bn invested; they will continue to play a crucial role in the government meeting its commitment to spend 2.4% of UK GDP on research and development.
