KCMC strengthens links across University of Southampton following faculty reorganisation

The Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry (KCMC), the UK’s innovation broker in materials chemistry, is set to strengthen materials chemistry innovation at the University of Southampton thanks to a structural reorganisation. The restructure will incorporate the School of Chemistry with other schools into a single Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences. The Schools of Chemistry, Electronics and Computer Science, Engineering, Physics and Astronomy and the Zepler Institute for Photonics and Nanoelectronics will be incorporated into the new Faculty together with the research led Web-Science Institute and the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute, enabling enhanced collaboration across Engineering & Physical Sciences. This reorganisation will increase KCMC’s ability to explore a broader range of opportunities for interdisciplinary R&D relationships, involving industrial and academic partners from different sectors across the materials supply chain. KCMC will have greater visibility of world-class facilities and expertise, further improving its scope for knowledge transfer. This will accelerate materials science innovation at the University of Southampton and its industry partners, ultimately improving business performance for the UK economy. Exciting facilities within the new Faculty include the μ‑VIS X‑ray Imaging Centre, the Southampton Nanofabrication Centre within the £120 million cleanroom complex of the Zepler Institute and the Advanced Composite Materials Facility and X‑Ray Diffraction Centre. Ron Swart, Knowledge Transfer Manager for KCMC, based at the University of Southampton, said: ​“This is a very exciting development in Southampton aligning key physical science and engineering skills in the development of novel materials. It will be of interest in several industry sectors and provide industry partners with new opportunities for collaboration” Gill Reid, Head of Chemistry at the University of Southampton, said ​“Chemistry is a core discipline in the development of novel materials acting as an interface with other sciences and engineering. The new Faculty structure will present many opportunities for collaboration and will facilitate KCMC’s mission to accelerate innovation in materials chemistry.” Any businesses interested in working with KCMC to access University of Southampton skills and facilities should contact Ron Swart at ron.​swart@​uk-​cpi.​com

Notes to the Editor

About KCMC

Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry (KCMC) is a partnership between the Universities of Bolton, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Southampton and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Hartree Centre, hosted by CPI. KCMC is the UK’s leading knowledge transfer organisation for materials chemistry. The KCMC team work closely with the partner universities and STFC, offering in-depth knowledge and experience of materials chemistry innovation in both academia and industry. This enables fruitful, collaborative projects between UK companies and the KCMC partners, leading to the development of valuable innovations in advanced materials at reduced cost and risk. For more information, please visit: https://​www​.mate​ri​als​chem​istry​.org​.uk Follow us on TwitterContact information:kcmc@​uk-​cpi.​com

About the University of Southampton

The University of Southampton drives original thinking, turns knowledge into action and impact, and creates solutions to the world’s challenges. We are among the top 100 institutions globally (QS World University Rankings 2019). Our academics are leaders in their fields, forging links with high-profile international businesses and organisations, and inspiring a 24,000-strong community of exceptional students, from over 135 countries worldwide. Through our high-quality education, the University helps students on a journey of discovery to realise their potential and join our global network of over 200,000 alumni. www​.southamp​ton​.ac​.uk

About CPI

The Centre for Process Innovation is a UK-based technology innovation centre and part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. We use applied knowledge in science and engineering combined with state-of-the-art development facilities to enable our clients to develop, prove, prototype and scale up the next generation of products and processes. Our open innovation model enables clients to develop products and prove processes with minimal risk. We provide assets and expertise so our customers can demonstrate the process before investing substantial amounts of money in capital equipment and training. New products and processes can be shown to be feasible; on paper, in the lab and in the plant before being manufactured at an industrial scale. By utilising our proven assets and expertise companies can take their products and processes to market faster. There is no down time in production as all of the process development is completed offsite and our technology transfer and engineering teams can help companies to transfer the product or process into full scale production at speed. www​.uk​-cpi​.comEditorial follow-up: Pranika Sivakumar, Notch Communications Pranika.​sivakumar@​notchcommunications.​co.​uk +44 (0) 161 457 7230