Research project to support the future of advanced ceramics in the Midlands

According to the Midlands Industrial Ceramics Group, placing the region at the heart of the international advanced ceramics sector will ultimately contribute towards growth of 4,200 jobs in the region by 2030.

To maximise on the opportunities, the group has launched a survey to assess the business development, innovation and product commercialisation needs of businesses of all sizes in the region.

The findings will help the group to develop the best approach, tied to business need, for its current and future activities.

Membership of the MICG is made up of blue-chip companies and SMEs including Morgan Advanced Materials , Rolls-Royce, JCB and Lucideon - as well as the universities of Birmingham, Leicester and Loughborough.

In early August, the group was successful in accessing the first round of government funding, provided through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship ‘Strength in Places Fund.’

Tony Kinsella of Lucideon, a lead partner of the group, said: “We are at an exciting stage in the process and it is important that we collaborate with as many businesses as possible to shape the future and make the Midlands the go-to location for global R&D and production of advanced ceramics. Carrying out detailed research will play a key part of that.”