What is the project?
The North West Science Fund (NWSF) project, North West Laser Engineering Consortium (NWLEC), has transformed laser materials research in the Northwest.
It has brought together the two major laser material processing groups in the country (based at Liverpool and Manchester universities) to form a critical expertise cluster. It has developed international quality capability at the forefront of laser applications in micro and nano technology. There is evidence of strong potential demand from companies across key sectors, particularly those in advanced manufacturing for laser technology. But there are significant and currently irresolvable barriers to entry that are preventing this uptake. These include:
- companies lack awareness of the benefits of laser processes;
- the demonstration of benefits of laser processes, which are required at a sufficiently well developed level to enable detailed technical and economic benefits to be critically assessed, which companies don’t have; and
- expertise in the laser applications area with sufficient ability to broker effective solutions for each company, which is not available.
A programme of targeted actions is required for the technology developed by NWLEC to be applied and exploited by industry partners within the Northwest for competitive advantage and to support the development of sustainable economic growth. Facilitators/Technical Translators are required to be engaged between the knowledge base and companies. At present there is no dedicated resource available to the newly created expertise cluster of NWLEC, which means knowledge exchange is sporadic and unfocused.
ERDF funding will be used on this new KE-Las activity to employ Knowledge Exchange and Applications Specialists, who have proven experience in the development of business opportunities with companies. This will be based on the exploitation of high value research and development results.
A smaller element of the funding will be used to support applications and development activities that will be required to demonstrate feasibility of the initiatives proposed with companies.
What is its purpose?
To transform laser materials research in the Northwest and provide businesses with opportunities to exploit research and development results.
How much funding has it received from ERDF?
£882,000.
How much funding has it received from other funding partners?
£882,000 funding from all other project partners.
Who applied for this project?
University of Liverpool.
Who can I contact to find out more?
Lynsey Keig.
How can I contact them?
lynsey.keig@liverpool.ac.uk.