On Friday 21st November 2014, The Institute for Aerospace Technology (IAT) hosted its third Annual Showcase for Aerospace Technology and Innovation, demonstrating the breadth of aerospace research, training and education conducted by The University of Nottingham.
The event, which was booked to capacity with in excess of 120 people involved throughout the day, brought together research and technology professionals from industry-leading businesses, local supply chain companies and academia.
Over 50 external visitors representing various companies were in attendance ranging from Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Airbus Group through to local Small- and Medium-Enterprises (SMEs) such as Bryant Symons, Argenta Ltd and Castlet Ltd.
Integration and demonstration
The event communicated the value placed by The University of Nottingham and industry on integration and demonstration within the aerospace research environment. Building on the theme of ‘integration’ were keynote addresses from some of the IAT's leading partners, including AgustaWestland, Airbus Group Innovations and the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). Each speaker discussed the importance to their organisation of both technology and supply chain integration.
Within the University’s Aerospace Technology Centre - a dedicated research and knowledge transfer centre on University of Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP) - the IAT demonstrated examples of the University’s world-leading aerospace research that is delivering translational impact.
At the forefront of this research is the work undertaken by the University’s Power Electronics, Machines and Control (PEMC) Research Group to advance the aerospace sector’s ‘More Electric Aircraft’ agenda. Many of the key projects within this area are funded through the Clean Sky JTI and delegates of the showcase were afforded the opportunity to visit the facilities being developed to enable the exploration of technologies that promise to fundamentally alter the face of future air transport.
Amongst the other areas of collaborative research being demonstrated guests also had the opportunity to experience for themselves the results of the EU-funded VR-Hyperspace project. VR-Hyperspace brings together an internationally-leading multidisciplinary consortium to explore enhancing comfort and reducing discomfort in air travel through the innovative use of Virtual Reality by changing the perception of self and space.
Chris Guest, Business Development Officer at the IAT, commented on the success of the showcase.
“The showcase provided an opportunity to exhibit the latest range of collaborative research currently hosted within the University’s facilities for aerospace research. The IAT is committed to helping industry strategically invest for the future of European and UK aerospace”.
Creating future engineers
The schedule for the day included two interactive workshops, one of which illuminated the key skills challenges that the sector will face if it is to meet tomorrow’s demands and is something which requires government, industry and educational institutions to work together to develop integrated strategies to deliver the aerospace professionals of the future.
Rachel Brereton, Programme Manager of the IAT, facilitated the workshop and commented: “We have a great opportunity to shape a future programme which will develop graduates who are ready for industry and who can provide the skills, knowledge and innovation to continue to grow the UK Aerospace sector. The workshop proved to be very useful in helping us to gain an understanding of the skills required by industry and the current barriers associated with graduate recruitment.”
A rapidly developing market
The aerospace industry is growing at a phenomenal rate. By 2030 it is estimated that there will be around 27,000 new aircraft in the skies, worth around $3.7tn. The UK already has the world’s second largest aerospace sector and global demand is accelerating.
Responding to this demand, the IAT represents the University’s broad research base, with current aerospace activity involving over 50 academics and a portfolio of over 70 externally funded projects valued at c.£65million.
Professor Hervé Morvan, the Director of the Institute for Aerospace Technology, said: “Our aim is to cement Nottingham as a world leading university for aerospace research. The IAT is playing a key part in delivering multidisciplinary research and driving the development of cutting-edge technology that will radically improve all aspects of air transport.”
For more information about the work of the Institute for Aerospace Technology at The University of Nottingham, visit the IAT's website.
Posted on Monday 26th January 2015