A transforming force for UK business innovation
New Manufacturing Technology Centre brings academic research to commercial reality
A partnership between the Coventry Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is set to become a transforming force for UK business innovation through a new Business Launch Centre MTC based in Merseyside.
The MTC Business Launch Centre at the LJMU Faculty of Technology and Environment, will encourage collaborative partnerships that take the ideas coming out of academia and develop them into commercial reality within industry.
It will provide a One Stop Shop for business and product incubation, build and commercialisation for the maritime industry, help businesses access new funding streams and point them towards the potential of emerging technologies.
The Liverpool City Region has one of the largest clusters of maritime business in Europe and Manufacturing Technology Centres are an important part of the UK's innovation system. LJMU hosts one of the oldest nautical institutions in the UK, having served the sector with innovative technology since 1892.
Professor Nigel Weatherill, LJMU Vice-Chancellor said::
“This is an exceptional opportunity for the regional maritime and logistics sector. MTC@LJMU will both support and accelerate the establishment and early stage development of the Liverpool Global Maritime Knowledge Hub, by providing the proven knowledge exchange infrastructure at the intersection between the Mersey Maritime business sector and LJMU’s specialist maritime education.
"Training, research and global connections will result in cluster-based knowledge transfer programmes, innovation support and increased growth, job creation and job security in one of the most competitive of international marketplaces.”
LJMU is also a founding partner in the creation and roll-out of a Mersey Maritime Skills Federation, due to launch in Autumn 2015 following a partnership agreement with Mersey Maritime. This will further drive innovation, research and development, and increase industry engagement and support for the entire Merseyside maritime sector.
