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“Partnership on this scale doesn’t simply happen: it has been nurtured by hundreds of researchers, engineers, apprentices, educators and colleagues around the world for decades” - Professor Kerry Kirwan, Dean of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick
The University of Warwick and Tata Group were announced as the award-winning collaboration at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London on Monday 20 October. They have been working together for over two decades. Their collaboration has resulted in one of Europe's largest research and development hubs, which has received £500m of investment and delivered over 100 research projects in the last decade. This partnership has also trained over 750 degree apprentices at JLR, and set up centres for doctoral training.
The range of projects the partners have undertaken includes pioneering electric car innovations like I-PACE batteries, lightweight carbon fibre components and laser welding innovations that have cut weight, emissions, waste and cost.
The University is also closely involved in Tata Steel’s Port Talbot site and its transition to low-carbon steel production with an electric arc furnace. WMG research with Tata Steel has increased scrap material usage, including using AI-based tools for improved scrap sorting and quality control in steel manufacturing.
Professor Stuart Croft, Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Warwick, said: “This is partnership with purpose, driving innovation, delivering sustainability and securing the future of the UK industry globally.”
As winners, the University of Warwick received a £25,000 prize, beating four other finalists, including City St George's, University of London and Howden Compressors; CMAC, University of Strathclyde and AstraZeneca; Heriot-Watt University, University of Edinburgh and Leonardo; and University College London, Savron Solutions, University of Strathclyde and the Open University.
Professor Sir Martin Sweeting OBE FREng FRS, Chair of the judging panel for the Bhattacharyya Award, said:
“This partnership started out in 2000 around the car industry working on skills and R&D and has evolved into the National Automotive Innovation Centre. This centre provides a space where engineers, designers and researchers from different organisations can work together on solutions and innovations for electric vehicles, and lightweight materials.”
“This collaboration has also gone beyond the automotive industry to encompass low-carbon steel production, batteries and manufacturing, and has created thousands of jobs in the local economy.”
University of Warwick and Tata Group with Lady Bhattacharyya (centre). Photo by Rob Lacey
Professor Kerry Kirwan, Dean of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick said:
“Winning this award, particularly against such strong competition, is a very proud moment for the University and our partners at Tata. Partnership on this scale doesn’t simply happen: it has been nurtured by hundreds of researchers, engineers, apprentices, educators and colleagues around the world for decades.”
“It's that scale, combined with the breadth and depth of the areas covered by our partnership that has been able to deliver such sizable economic, social and environmental impact. And it’s a testament to the spirit and vision of our founder Professor Lord Bhattacharyya that his legacy is still being realised and having a positive impact today.”
“Partnerships between academia and industry are needed now more than ever to realise the government’s vision set out in its industrial strategy – we are proud to be playing our part.”
Science Minister Lord Vallance HonFREng FRS FMedSci said:
“The Bhattacharyya Award is an opportunity to showcase the value of universities and businesses working together to unlock new discoveries that can improve lives. We also recognise the importance of these collaborations in creating new jobs and skilling up the UK, which has a major part to play in delivering our number one priority of growing the economy.”
Notes for editors
1. The Bhattacharyya Award is an annual award to celebrate collaboration between academia and industry. The UK government announced the award in July 2019 as a tribute to Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya KT CBE FREng FRS, Regius Professor of Manufacturing at the University of Warwick and founder of Warwick Manufacturing Group. The programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
2. WMG, University of Warwick, is a world leading research and education group, transforming organisations and driving innovation through a unique combination of collaborative research and development, and pioneering education programmes. As an international role model for successful partnerships between academia and the private and public sectors, WMG develops advancements nationally and globally, in applied science, technology and engineering, to deliver real impact to economic growth, society and the environment.
3. The Royal Academy of Engineering creates and leads a community of outstanding experts and innovators to engineer better lives. As a charity and a Fellowship, we deliver public benefit from excellence in engineering and technology and convene leading businesspeople, entrepreneurs, innovators and academics across engineering and technology. As a National Academy, we provide leadership for engineering and technology, and independent, expert advice to policymakers in the UK and beyond. Our work is enabled by funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, corporate and university partners, charitable trusts and foundations, and individual donors.