The University of Birmingham has been awarded £34.6m to establish the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Manufacturing Research Hub in Robotics, Automation & Smart Machine Enabled Sustainable Circular Manufacturing & Materials (RESCu-M2).
This national hub aims to transition the UK to a circular manufacturing ecosystem, supported by £11m from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and £23.6m from project partners.
Part of UK Research and Innovation’s ‘Manufacturing research hubs for a sustainable future’ programme, RESCu-M2 will address two major challenges: the sustainable use of critical materials and the productivity of Re-X processes, which include reuse, repurpose, repair, remanufacture and recycle.
These processes are currently more labour-intensive than traditional manufacturing, leading to significant material waste. Enhancing these processes could save businesses up to £23bn annually, the university said in a statement.
Professor Charlotte Deane, EPSRC executive chair, highlighted the importance of this initiative for the UK’s manufacturing sector. She added: “Given the scale and importance of the UK’s manufacturing sector we must ensure that it is able to benefit fully from advances made across the research and innovation ecosystem.
“With their focus on innovation and sustainability the advances made by the hubs will benefit specific sectors, the wider manufacturing sector and economy, as well the environment”
RESCu-M2 will collaborate with multiple universities and regional authorities, aiming to create a cost-effective, sustainable manufacturing ecosystem. The interdisciplinary team at RESCu-M2 will develop smart processes for disassembly, remanufacturing and recovery of materials, aiming to make the UK a leader in circular manufacturing.
