New report sets out the scale of opportunity for the Midlands in advanced ceramics

Our collaboration with The Midlands Industrial Ceramics Group (MICG), in partnership with the Midlands Engine Observatory, continues to drive towards positioning the Midlands, UK, as a world leader in advanced ceramics.

A blueprint setting out the compelling opportunities for the Midlands to position itself as a world leader in advanced ceramics has been launched.

Businesses and academics from across the region have collaborated on the Advanced Ceramics Sector Profile, commissioned by the Midlands Industrial Ceramics Group (MICG) in partnership with the Midlands Engine Observatory.

Highlighting the global opportunities presented in the rapidly growing industry, the document sets out the fundamental importance of advanced ceramics to the performance of high-tech sectors worldwide.

It also gives an insight into the wealth of knowledge and key strengths already in place across the Midlands, and how the region is uniquely placed to tap into the significant growth opportunities globally.

The Advanced Ceramics Sector Profile has been compiled by City-REDI and builds on an industrial consultation completed by themselves and SQW in 2020, which revealed that no other UK region has the equivalent mass of advanced ceramics specialist suppliers, end users and researchers.

Sir John Peace, Chairman, Midlands Engine, said: “The Midlands, and in particular North Staffordshire, has always been synonymous with excellence and innovation in ceramics.

“As industry, across a range of sectors including aviation, medical technologies and space, increasingly turns to the unique properties of these new or advanced ceramics to enhance performance and durability, the Midlands has a leading role to play in accelerating the growth of this cutting-edge technology, both nationally and globally.”

Professor Simon Collinson, Director of City-REDI, added: “Our combined research, which involved in depth consultations with more than 60 industrialist and academics, clearly demonstrates the scale of the opportunity for advanced ceramics and how the Midlands is well placed to benefit from this.

“There is a clear consensus this is a significant opportunity for the UK and that the Midlands is the best placed to drive this forward.”

The full Advanced Ceramics Sector Profile is available at https://micg.org.uk/