Lord Sainsbury, minister for science, has announced the creation of 12 innovative manufacturing research centres based in academic institutions across the UK.
The scheme, backed by £60 million government money, will have centres located at universities in Cambridge, Loughborough, Salford, Liverpool, Reading, Warwick, Nottingham, Bath, UCL and Cranfield.

They will be led by a team of academics and research specialists and will support all aspects of manufacturing, including engineering ingenuity.

The initiative is being co-ordinated by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, with the aim of ensuring that future graduates develop the relevant additional skills in business and commerce.

Launching the initiative Lord Sainsbury comments: "This event marks an important development in securing an increasingly productive and competitive future for the UK's manufacturing sector."

For more information on the scheme contact the DTI on 020 7215 5000.