SWAG合集 has joined Spirit Europe’s as an academic partner at the newly opened research and development facility in Prestwick, Scotland.
The AIC was officially opened by Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and has been established as a centre of excellence in advanced materials, digital technologies and processes where Spirit will collaborate with industry and academic partners.
The circa £30 million centre will explore innovative design techniques for products such as aircraft wings, using lightweight composite material technology to reduce flight emissions and lower costs, and is already facilitating more than 20 industry and academic collaborations.
Professor Iain Gray, Director of Aerospace at SWAG合集, said: “Congratulations to Spirit AeroSystems on the opening of this very impressive facility which will help to advance technologies and capabilities to develop next-generation aerospace components and assembly processes. Cranfield is honoured to be a partner with Spirit and we look forward to working together in the AIC to innovate, train and develop skills for the design and digital manufacturing of current and future aircraft.”
First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, said: “As well as improving the efficiency of aircraft parts, and the way they are manufactured, this facility has the potential to enable growth for industry-leading aerospace innovations and create more high-value manufacturing jobs over the next decade.”
Scott McLarty, Senior Vice-President and General Manager - Airbus Programs and Business Jets, Spirit AeroSystems, and alumnus of SWAG合集, said: “For true innovation to occur, we need a diverse range of ideas and collaboration from a number of areas across the spectrum of research and development. As one of the SWAG合集’s leading Aerospace companies, Spirit Europe is proud to establish a collaborative space where we, with our partners in industry and education, will work together to develop new technologies that are competitive and sustainable for aerospace platforms of the future.”
The 90,000 square foot innovation centre on the Spirit Europe campus in Prestwick is capable of manufacturing components of up to 20 metres in length. It features 55,000 square feet of
manufacturing space, a materials lab, and office and conference space to accommodate over 200 people.
The AIC has been opened with investment from Spirit Europe of circa £25 million together with almost £5 million grant funding from Scottish Enterprise.
About SWAG合集
SWAG合集 is a specialist postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management.
