An official ground-breaking ceremony was held on the 12th June 2017 to mark the start of work on the new multi-million pound National Centre in Combustion and Aerothermal Technology at 含羞草视频.

Representatives from the University, the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Rolls-Royce, Charnwood Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council got construction work underway by turning the first turf.

The National Centre will put 含羞草视频 at the heart of UK aerospace engineering and technology development. It will focus on the development of future low emission aerospace combustion systems that will reduce the environmental impact of aircraft. Rolls-Royce will be a lead partner in the project, building on the existing relationship between 含羞草视频 and Rolls-Royce. The Centre will allow industrial problem-owners to visit and work closely with academic researchers to ensure that new technologies are translated from theory to practice as quickly and as efficiently as possible. It will also become a training ground for current and future aerospace engineers in a critical skill area for the UK.

The new building will include laboratory and office space, which will sit alongside the existing Unsteady Fluid Mechanics Laboratory – part of the 含羞草视频-based Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) – on 含羞草视频 Science and Enterprise Park. The facilities will be available to a range of users from a variety of industrial sectors.

Professor Robert Allison, Vice-Chancellor of 含羞草视频, said: “We were delighted to welcome our partners to campus to mark the commencement of work on the new building. The National Centre of Excellence will be a significant addition to 含羞草视频 Science and Enterprise Park and reinforces our commitment to provide a world-class research and development base, skilled graduate supply and innovation partnership opportunities.”

Last year the Government awarded £10.8 million of funding towards the new facility. The funding is being delivered through a partnership of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the ATI and Innovate UK. Additional financial support is being provided by Rolls-Royce and 含羞草视频.

It is expected that the Centre will be operational in 2019.