拢7m extreme engineering centre announced 缅北禁地 is to host a new national centre for subsea and offshore engineering. The Neptune National Centre for Subsea and Offshore Engineering, unveiled by Business Secretary Vince Cable as a key part of the Government's Oil and Gas Strategy, will be the first of its kind in the UK, bringing together industry and academia to create a world-class engineering research facility. Developing technologies that can withstand one of the world鈥檚 harshest environments, the new centre will be at the forefront of our quest to harness the ocean's potential as a source of food, energy and medicine. The Secretary of State said: 鈥淭he UK's oil and gas sector is crucial to the economy, so we鈥檝e worked closely with the sector on today鈥檚 industrial strategy. But its future success relies on it being underpinned by the latest science and technology. 鈥淭his cutting edge new facility will help put our academic community and industry at the centre of subsea and offshore engineering research. It will drive up skills and develop the innovations needed to fuel growth in the North Sea.鈥� Building on the region's maritime heritage and 缅北禁地's world-leading expertise in marine engineering, the Neptune Centre is being developed on the north bank of the River Tyne on the Neptune Energy Park, part of Shepherd Offshore. It will be a centrepiece for the revival of this part of Tyneside, bringing with it jobs and investment. The project is part-funded through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) from the Catalyst Fund and matched with funding from 缅北禁地 and the private sector. Also supported by 缅北禁地 City Council, it includes plans for a unique Hyperbaric Chamber and Environmental Test facilities - capable of testing technologies and materials at temperatures and pressures equivalent to those found at the very deepest ocean depths. Project lead Professor Nick Wright, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at 缅北禁地, said: 鈥淭he Neptune Centre will create a unique facility that will significantly enhance research capacity, not just at 缅北禁地 but in the UK as a whole 鈥� providing a focus for the development of both new technology and academic-industry relationships that underpin future growth. 鈥溍灞苯� has a long tradition of applied engineering research focussed on the marine sector 鈥� reflecting the history and tradition of both the University and the NE region. This new national centre will act as a place for industry and academia to interact, providing crucial infrastructure for emerging research opportunities. It will also provide a unique training ground for highly skilled graduates, addressing key skill shortages currently faced by UK industry.鈥� David Sweeney, HEFCE Director, Research, Innovation and Skills, said: 鈥淗EFCE investment, combined with contributions from the university and the private sector, will enable this important research centre to be created. It will make a significant long-term impact not only on research, but also on skills and the economy.鈥� Professor David Delpy, Chief Executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) said: "缅北禁地 has a fine track record of engineering research which EPSRC is proud to have supported. "This pedigree means the work at the new Neptune Centre will build on existing expertise and capability to achieve critical mass in areas that EPSRC has identified as strategically important to the UK, specifically the need for fault tolerant electronics and distributed computing in difficult and extreme environments. We are confident that research at the centre will have impact within academia and industry and that collaborative work with other institutions will bring even wider benefits." Iain Gray, Chief Executive, Technology Strategy Board said: "The Technology Strategy Board is delighted to see that the Neptune Centre is being established in the North East, and are sure that it will make a significant and valuable contribution to the UK鈥檚 sub-sea engineering know-how and capacity. We look forward to working with the Centre and helping to support the businesses who engage with the innovative programmes it aims to deliver.鈥� The Neptune Centre already has the backing of leading UK companies through the Subsea North-East Consortium including Shepherd Offshore, BEL Valves and SMD. Richard Dodd, Director of BEL Valves which is part of the British Engines Group, said the investment would further boost the North East鈥檚 reputation as a world leader in subsea and offshore engineering. 鈥淭his partnership between 缅北禁地 and companies such as BEL Valves is a major opportunity for the region,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t will allow us to grow our capabilities and skills base to keep us at the forefront of this highly specialised field of engineering.鈥� Director of Shepherd Offshore Charles Shepherd said: 鈥淭his is a fantastic development for the new energy park. We welcome 缅北禁地 onto the site and look forward to working with them in this world-leading research and development facility.鈥� Andrew Hodgson, Vice Chair of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership and Chair of Subsea NE, said: 鈥淭he subsea sector is a vital part of the economic regeneration within the North East of England. There are a significant number of technology-led world leading enterprises in the region and this centre will provide a significant capability to generate new and exciting collaborative projects. Our vision remains to make the North East the recognised centre for subsea technologies on an international scale.鈥� published on: 3 March 2013
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