New innovation centre for Rochdale represents “a BIG BANG for regional economic prosperity”

Phil Black - PII Editor 04/04/2024

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Plans for a new innovation centre set to turbo charge the local economy and bring millions of pounds of investment to Rochdale and the wider region were revealed to North West business leaders at a launch event at Rochdale Town Hall (6^th March 2024).

Located on the Atom Valley site, which is already slated to bring 20,000 new highly skilled roles within world-class businesses, the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS) will focus on providing state-of-the-art green manufacturing solutions. Advanced materials are designed to cut down on waste and increase sustainability, making them crucial for business and the environment.

Speaking at the event, advanced materials were described by the Chief Executive of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Katherine Bennett as: “Once the stuff of science fiction.” Going on to say: “the development and use of advanced materials has already opened up a world of possibilities.”

The new Centre will also be central to ensuring a growing and prosperous local economy in the North West: “CEAMS represents a big bang for regional economic prosperity” according to Rochdale Borough Council Leader, Neil Emmott, who opened the launch event. He went on to highlight: “CEAMS 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.”

The North West of England remains the biggest manufacturing area in the UK, worth £28.2bn and employing over 300,000 people.

CEAMS is part of a wider strategy to cement the regions 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.

Ms Bennett went on to describe the important role CEAMS will play in delivering that strategy: “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.”

It is hoped that in its initial phase around 50 companies will come and work to develop and scale up their materials technologies at CEAMS.

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.”

This project is funded as a two-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.

CEAMS is led by a consortium of expert partners, including: Rochdale Development Agency (RDA), Henry Royce Institute, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult) and its centres: Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), National Composites Centre (NCC), Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Manufacturing Technology Centre(MTC).

About the Rochdale Development Agency

The Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) works to promote the economic well-being of Rochdale by helping to deliver new economic investment, development and jobs. For over 30 years, RDA has offered confidential, comprehensive business support services for Rochdale. As a local authority controlled company of Rochdale Borough Council, we also work to deliver a range of regeneration projects and support the development of heritage and cultural organisations. We work closely with numerous stakeholders from academia and research, public and private sectors as well as charitable and community groups to act as the single point of contact for Rochdale Borough.

About HVMC

Established and supported by Innovate UK, the High Value Manufacturing Catapult bridges the gap between business and academia, helping to turn great ideas into commercial realities by providing access to world-class research, development facilities and expertise that would otherwise be out of reach for many businesses in the UK. The HVM Catapult prides itself on helping businesses to transform the products they sell, the way they make them and the skills of their workforce to remain competitive in a global marketplace.

About CPI

We catalyse the adoption of advanced technologies and manufacturing solutions to benefit people, places, and our planet.

CPI connects the dots within the innovation ecosystem to make great ideas and inventions a reality to benefit people, places, and the planet. We’re a pioneering social enterprise that accelerates the development, scale-up and commercialisation of deep tech and sustainable manufacturing solutions. Through our incredible innovation experts and infrastructure, we look beyond the obvious to transform healthcare and drive towards a sustainable future.   

As a trusted partner of industry, academia, government, and the investment community, we’re the catalyst for delivering smart AgriFoodTech, energy storage, HealthTech, materials, and pharma innovations. We believe by working together, we can build a better collective future, and as part of the High-Value Manufacturing Catapult, we facilitate access to world-class organisations to deliver transformation across industries.      

Creating lasting global impact from the North of England and Scotland, we invest in people and disruptive technologies to invigorate economies, create circular supply chains, and make our world a better place.  

Let’s innovate together: www.uk-cpi.com