Ministerial Visit for Key Engineering and Robotics Hub
A Government Minister visited the University of Salford to see how our engineering and robotics experts are boosting the region’s SME’s by helping them adopt new technology and improve efficiency.
Blair McDougall MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation) spent some time at The Northern Engineering and Robotics Innovation Centre (NERIC) this week. He chatted with staff and met some of the businesses that NERIC has already helped.
NERIC is a specialist hub at the University of Salford, designed to help small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) harness the potential of robotics, automation and digital technologies. It is also contributing to the development and uptake of advanced manufacturing and materials technologies in the Greater Manchester area.
Initiated by a £16 million investment from ERDF, Research England and the University of Salford, NERIC provides the tools, expertise and space for high-growth SMEs to reduce the risks of innovation and more quickly adapt new technology to boost efficiency. It helps businesses explore, design, test and adopt advanced technologies—whether they’re tackling rising costs, staff shortages or process inefficiencies. Current funding from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to the tune of £3.6M is helping expand NERIC’s footprint into critical advanced materials and manufacturing, including electronics, photonics and sensor technologies.
Professor Maziar Nezhad, Director of NERIC, showed the Minister around the facility. He said: “Our mission is to be a bridge between academic and industry. It allows us to apply cutting edge academic research and technology into real life businesses. We also supporting businesses who want to make the transition to new technologies and practices by providing expert advice and de-risking solutions to their particular needs.”
The facility features laboratories, filled with different robotics and automation equipment. Businesses can test what their needs are before investing, taking much of the risk out of the process. Alongside the robotics labs, the Centre also operates a new microfabrication cleanroom to support industrial and academic research in advanced materials and microtechnologies.
Minister for Small Business Blair McDougall said: "The UK’s $1 trillion tech sector is built on regional strengths, and Greater Manchester is a prime example. At the University of Salford, I saw how engineering and robotics are helping SMEs across the city region improve efficiency, raise productivity, and accelerate growth.
“Our modern Industrial Strategy will support thousands of SMEs in adopting new technologies, helping to deliver the long-term growth that supports jobs and raises living standards across the UK.”
NERIC is an important part of the Crescent Innovation Zone, which forms part of the wider £2.5bn Crescent Salford masterplan being delivered by the Crescent Partnership.
The Crescent Salford regeneration is a key project within Greater Manchester’s Central Growth Cluster – one of the city region’s six Growth Locations, where investment is being targeted to turbocharge growth.
