The University is set to benefit from two major investments in research partnerships that will strengthen the links between the UK’s research base, industry and business partners.
Both investments show the pivotal importance of engineering and the physical sciences to the country’s continued development as a global research and innovation leader.
The first is a set of new ‘Prosperity Partnerships’ which will receive £31m of government funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF). This is matched by a further £36m from partner organisations in cash or in-kind contributions, plus £11m from universities’ funds, totalling £78m in all.
Over five years, the University’s Silicon Photonics Group (part of the Optoelectronics Research Centre – ORC) will receive £2.7m from the EPSRC, working with its partner Rockley Photonics – who will contribute a further £2m. The University will provide an additional £148,000.
The second EPSRC investment is £60m for 33 universities to advance their Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAA). The University of Southampton will receive almost £3m for IAAs over three years. The funding allows institutions the flexibility to operate tailored schemes that help increase the likelihood of impact from their research. They speed the contribution that scientists make towards new innovation, successful businesses and the economic returns that benefit the UK.
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