Showcase for advanced materials research in the UK

The 2014 Materials Research Exchange is a free event that will showcase outstanding materials research from the UK’s centres of excellence. Amongst a number of talks from ministers, eminent industrialists and academics, a range of universities and research organisations will be exhibiting at the Materials Knowledge Transfer Network’s (Materials KTN) flagship event.

Earlier this year, Science Minister David Willets announced that there would be huge government investment in the ‘eight great technologies’. Advanced materials rank amongst these, and one of the key aims of the Materials Research Exchange is to showcase the wealth of research and innovation in this area – reinforcing the government’s view that this is a key technology area, linked inextricably to the future prosperity of the UK.

The event aims to foster closer ties between industry and the UK’s excellent research base, encouraging further funding from both public and private sources. As well as opening up funding opportunities to advance research, it is hoped that the commercialisation of particular projects will be spurred by private equity support.

Keynote addresses will be given by high-profile industrialists, stressing the importance of materials research to their commercial ventures. In addition, the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will stage a series of seminars and workshops demonstrating the scope of current developments in advanced materials, which the UK is poised to deliver. Graduate research students will also be displaying their work as part of a poster competition that will be judged by a select panel.

Members of industry and academia from both the UK and overseas are encouraged to attend, capitalising on the chance to gain an impressive overview of UK materials research and to enjoy the opportunity of networking with others from a variety of materials-based disciplines.

Taking place on 25 February 2014 at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, the event is free of charge for those wishing to attend as delegates – but registration is required.

Register for the 2014 Materials Research Exchange: http://bit.ly/19MPVrr

Join the Materials KTN (free): http://bit.ly/19It0Qa