The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has announced the signing of a five-year agreement with a leading Austrian research organisation.
Upper Austria Research (UAR), backed by the Upper Austria State Government, has agreed a partnership with the Midlands-based MTC, which is at the forefront of delivering manufacturing systems solutions across a range of industry sectors.
The Manufacturing Technology Centre, one of seven centres in the government-backed High Value Manufacturing Catapult network, and UAR are expected to exchange specialist knowledge and information as part of the five-year collaboration, which will also see the two organisations co-operate on joint research projects.
A 35-strong Austrian delegation witnessed the signing of the agreement at the MTC’s cutting-edge site, including State Government of Upper Austria deputy governor, Thomas Stelzer; UAR CEO, Dr Wilfried Enzenhofer; the Austrian Ambassador to the UK, Dr Martin Eichtinger, and Austrian trade commissioner, Dr Christian Kesberg.
The agreement is viewed as a significant marker in the wake of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, according to Prof. Ken Young, the centre’s technology director.
He explained: “The MTC has always worked closely with Europe on the future technologies for manufacturing and we intend to continue to do that post-Brexit.
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“This agreement is an important milestone for the MTC as it shows that some key partners in Europe share our desire to keep collaborating.
“We very much look forward to a productive partnership with Upper Austrian Research over the next five years and driving innovation.”
Thomas Stelzer commented: “The research and innovation infrastructures in the UK have been internationally recognised, particularly the MTC which is known for its latest state-of-the-art equipment and its highly qualified team of engineers, which together are providing a highly-respected innovation environment.
“There have been links with the MTC before, which has included the aspect of training, but there is an ambition to intensify the information exchange and know-how transfer, as well as a stronger collaboration on a European level.”
