The digital revolution is changing the way engineers work, with companies competing to provide solutions through the latest digital technologies.
Facilitated by the Industrial Partnerships team in Research and innovation Services, the University of Bath joins the Digital Engineering Technology and Innovation (DETI) consortium, helping companies identify and develop the tools, technologies and processes to rapidly accelerate digital engineering capabilities and identify the skills to embed digital innovations.
DETI is a strategic programme of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), delivered by the National Composites Centre (NCC) in partnership with the Centre for Modelling & Simulation (CFMS), Digital Catapult, the University of the West of England (UWE), the University of Bristol, and the University of Bath.
Industry partners include GKN Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, and CFMS, with in kind contributions from UWE, Digital Catapult and Siemens. DETI is funded by £5 million from WECA, with co-investment from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and industry.
The two-year R&D Initiative, was announced on 31 January and launched on 15 July 2020.
Professor Richard Butler, Co-Director of the Materials and Structures Research Centre, will be leading the effort from Bath, along with fellow researchers from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, and the Department of Computer Science. Professor Butler says:
It is exciting to collaborate with colleagues across Mechanical Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science to identify digitally-enhanced innovative solutions for the sustainability and light-weighting of manufacturing. From aircraft to cars, this is essential if we are to deliver a progressive low carbon economy by the end of the decade.
DETI will also deliver a skills and workforce development programme to support industry with a digital-ready future workforce.
The initial phase of the DETI programme is led by the National Composites Centre (NCC), one of the world-leading High Value Manufacturing Catapult centres designed to transform the UK’s innovation capability. It brings together research expertise, cutting edge facilities and cross-sectoral delivery partners with a shared intention to use this project as a platform for developing scalable solutions to industry problems.
Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath, Professor Ian White, says:
We are pleased to be part of the DETI project, supporting the UK’s ambition to to become global leaders in high value digital engineering. Our interdisciplinary research expertise at the University of Bath aligns extremely well with this Initiative, making digital transformation a reality for engineering companies in the South West. I look forward to seeing the collaboration develop and have impact.
For further information on the DETI consortium, the R&D Initiative, developing Industrial partnerships, or getting involved with regional multi-party R&D collaborations contact: Helen Jones, Head of Industrial Partnerships, Research & Innovation Services. Email: hj541@bath.ac.uk.
See the press release from the National Composites Centre.
