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[February 2002]
Motorsport to Offer Inside Track for High Performance Ceramics
The Motorsport Industry Association (MIA), backed by substantial medium-term funding from the DTI, is set to lead a high performance materials network project that could offer serious global marketing opportunities for companies based in the UK that are involved in the development and manufacture of ceramics suitable for advanced engineering applications.The project, hinging on the UK's 'Motorsport Valley Cluster' but extending to other areas such as defence and aerospace, will formally get underway on 1 April 2002 and is expected to attract DTI funding of £1 million cash a year for an initial period of three years. This central funding is likely to be matched by similar amounts from regional government funding.
The Government is looking to secure a sum equivalent to the DTI input from the industry participants in the project. This may be a combination of funding in cash and in kind, or like-for-like input. The MIA's Chief Executive Officer Chris Aylett explained: "The like-for-like component might be in the form of attendance at appropriate seminars and exhibitions, providing speakers for networking events, generally committing resources and personnel time to the project, or hosting inward buying missions".
The main criterion for entering this project will be the development and/or manufacture of any materials and systems that could offer a performance gain in any area of the Advanced Engineering Cluster. The bywords for this type of network project approach are interaction, collaboration and new partnerships - all with the aim of providing added value and competitive advantage.
As far as ceramic materials are concerned, several product areas immediately offer themselves as prime candidates for consideration: these include ceramics used in brake systems, engine wear components, a range of high temperature applications, ceramics used in exhaust assemblies and the continued development of lightweight ceramic materials.
UK Motorsport has been chosen to lead the project for a number of reasons, amongst which is the fact this particular area of British engineering is one of the most successful in the world and in the depth of available expertise is unique to this country. It is a £5 billion per annum industry, with around 3,000 businesses employing 40,000 people - fully 28,000 of whom are engineers. The commitment of the Motorsport Valley Cluster to future engineering materials is already demonstrably high: it ploughs 25% of annual sales back into research and development which is double that, for instance, of the pharmaceutical sector.
Chris Aylett added: "This network project will provide a fast catalyst and breeding ground for the crucial validation of advanced ceramic materials development. The ceramic sector should benefit from the fact that whole concept of motorsport is based on partnerships and there are elements of best practice to be learnt from this industry. The DTI is keen to see us harnessing the success of this unique UK cluster and spreading the benefit to the wider advanced engineering sector.
"Because of the unusual commercial dynamic which underpins motorsport - where sponsors want to see their brands moved up the grid - this project provides a route for ceramic engineers to access global marketing budgets. It will also encourage new young engineers to carve out a future for themselves in what they are likely to see as an exciting area of materials development."
Any companies wishing to obtain further information about participation in this project should make direct contact with Chris Aylett. Tel: 02476 692600. Fax: 02476 692601. Email: chris.aylett@the-mia.com
ENDS