CPI to play a crucial role in new Rochdale-based innovation centre
05 Mar 2024
Plans for a new innovation centre set to bring millions of pounds of investment to Rochdale and the wider region were revealed at Rochdale Town Hall today.
The Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS) will focus on providing state-of-the-art green manufacturing solutions.
CPI, alongside partners from the Rochdale Development Agency and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, will play a crucial role in the development of the centre by bringing together government, industry and academia to generate new business for the region.
The new centre is part of a wider strategy to cement the region’s reputation as the hub of manufacturing in the UK and is also a key component of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s (DSIT) Innovation Accelerator Programme.
The project is funded as a 2‑year pilot by the Greater Manchester Innovation Accelerator programme.
Led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, the pilot Innovation Accelerator programme is investing £100m in 26 transformative R&D projects to accelerate the growth of three high-potential innovation clusters – Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester and West Midlands.
Neil Emmott, Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said:
“CEAMS represents a big bang for regional economic prosperity. This is a once in a lifetime project that will secure the future and change the face of not just Rochdale but of the North West.”
Katherine Bennett MBE, Chief Executive at HVM Catapult, said:
“The High Value Manufacturing Catapult will be instrumental in encouraging businesses to participate in CEAMS. Just over a year ago we signed a pledge with Innovation Greater Manchester and the Combined Authority which included a commitment to attract new investment to the region.”
Frank Millar, CEO at CPI, said:
“We are looking forward to bringing our 20 years of expertise in the development of advanced materials to this project and collaborating with some of the very best academics and industry leaders, bringing inward investment to Rochdale and the Greater Manchester region.”
It’s hoped that in its initial phase around 50 companies will come and work to develop and scale up materials technologies at CEAMS.
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