Southampton University part of £45m Rolls Royce research plan (From This is Hampshire)

Southampton University part of £45m Rolls Royce research plan

10:55am Wednesday 10th February 2010

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A HAMPSHIRE University will get part of a £45m windfall to develop more environmentally-friendly engines.

The University of Southampton will be part of the Government support package to research and develop more fuel-efficient, lower-carbon aero engines.

The move will fund new partnerships between Rolls-Royce and universities around the UK, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said.

Projects will include developing lighter fans which reduce fuel consumption, simulation technology for virtual engineering and new high-temperature alloys to improve fuel efficiency.

Rolls-Royce said it would work in partnership with Southampton University, as well as universities in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Imperial College London, Loughborough, Nottingham, Oxford, Surrey and Swansea.

Lord Mandelson also welcomed the Rolls-Royce commitment to build a new aero-engine disc facility in Washington, Sunderland.

He said: ''The knowledge, skills and high-end production the UK offers give us huge opportunities to benefit as global demand for low-carbon products grows.

''These new projects will help our world-class aerospace industry to meet that growing low-carbon demand.''

Ric Parker, director of research and technology at Rolls-Royce, said: ''This is a good example of government, industry and academia coming together to expand Britain's capabilities in high value- added manufacturing.''

The disc facility is one of four new facilities Rolls-Royce is to build in the UK which will secure or create 800 jobs.

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