University of Birmingham & BAE Systems strengthen ties

Posted on 27 Jan 2017 by Jonny Williamson

The University of Birmingham and BAE Systems have signed a strategic framework agreement to strengthen their long-term relationship in research, education and consultancy.

Professor Andy Schofield, University of Birmingham, and Jennifer Osbaldestin, BAE Systems managing director, Land.
Professor Andy Schofield, University of Birmingham, and Jennifer Osbaldestin, BAE Systems managing director, Land.

The University of Birmingham is reportedly one of a handful of UK universities to sign such an agreement, as BAE Systems reviews its university partnerships strategy to work more closely with institutions with shared expertise in future capabilities.

The framework is expected to see BAE Systems and the University to share strategic aims for the future and more closely aligns the University’s world-leading expertise with BAE Systems’ solutions.

University Pro Vice Chancellor (Engineering), Professor Andy Schofield explained: “Our partnerships with industry are key to delivering our strategy and this agreement will support the continued growth of this relationship over the coming years.

“We look forward to working more closely together on exciting research and innovation to achieve even greater mutual benefits.”

BAE Systems managing director (Land), Jennifer Osbaldestin added: “Partnerships like these are great news for BAE Systems and the wider UK engineering industry, so we are delighted to agree this strategic framework for working more closely with the University of Birmingham. It ties in perfectly with our business strategy to develop new technology and give our customers an essential edge.”

The University and BAE Systems have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship for a number of years, including several successful collaboration and research projects. These include the highly successful and award-winning research projects SAMULET, which looks at strategic manufacturing technology, and ORCHID, which explores how humans and computers can better interact in disaster management and other areas.

Birmingham has also benefited from collaborative work on enhancing skills in the maritime engineering sector.

The first activities under this framework will be for members of the Land UK Technology team to meet with University academics to learn about areas of expertise and look at ways to work more closely in future.