The University of Nottingham has been awarded a landmark £70 million investment to establish cutting-edge, open-access research facilities aimed at decarbonizing future transport systems. The funding package includes a £14 million grant from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF), bolstered by significant co-investment from both public and private sectors. This financial injection will expand the university’s internationally recognized expertise in electrification, hydrogen technologies, and advanced manufacturing, positioning the UK as a global leader in sustainable transport innovation.
Professor Chris Gerada, who leads strategic research initiatives at Nottingham, described this as one of the largest research funding injections ever seen in the East Midlands. “This accelerates our vision to create world-class facilities, build industry partnerships, and drive economic growth,” Gerada stated. The investment will enable scaling up manufacturing processes for electrical machines and drives currently being developed in UKRI’s Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centre (DER-IC). Starting March 2025, the university will collaborate closely with industry partners to demonstrate manufacturing capabilities for propulsion, traction, and generator applications across transport sectors.
A key component of the initiative is a new systems integration lab scheduled to become operational by 2025. This facility will allow researchers and industry partners to “plug and play” disruptive heavy transport components, testing their performance under real-world conditions. The program will also pioneer testing of novel powertrains, including cryogenic electrical machines and systems fueled by liquid hydrogen and other green alternatives – particularly valuable where battery electric solutions prove impractical. Professor Dame Jessica Corner of Research England emphasized the national significance of this investment, noting it addresses critical gaps in UK research infrastructure.
The university’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Professor Tom Rodden, highlighted the open-access nature of the new facilities, which will foster collaboration across academic institutions, industries, and international partners. The research hub will be primarily based at Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus, building upon existing investments like the Power Electronics and Machines Centre (PEMC) and the Zero Carbon Innovation Centre. Industry partners span aerospace, marine, power generation, and off-highway sectors, with the Aerospace Technology Institute’s Harry Malins noting the facility will provide unique testing capabilities for hydrogen systems under extreme conditions.
This ambitious program strengthens Nottingham’s position within a national network of research infrastructure while addressing urgent global decarbonization challenges. By combining academic excellence with industry collaboration and cutting-edge facilities, the university aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable transport solutions, driving both technological innovation and economic growth. The initiative reflects growing recognition that achieving net-zero transport requires breakthroughs not just in battery technology, but across multiple alternative propulsion systems and manufacturing approaches.
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