New hi-tech engineering centre for Leicester University

Vice-chancellor professor Sir Robert Burgess will open The Engineering Materials Integration Centre (MaTIC ) today in Leicester University’s Stirling/Gowan Engineering Building. The event will be attended by academic and industry representatives.

The aim of MaTIC is to provide expertise and know-how of advanced technology that can be used to solve complex engineering and scientific problems.

Funding for the facility was provided by the Higher Education Funding Council’s Capital Infrastructure Fund and Leicester University.

Prof Sarah Hainsworth, head of the new centre, said MaTIC will be ‘bristling’ with technologies that help industry work with academics to tackle the materials challenges of the future.

‘The purpose of the centre is underpinned by industry’s critical need to develop new materials and processes,’ she said. ‘The materials being developed are of the next generation and will help to make aero and automotive engines that are more efficient. These new materials contribute to decreasing carbon-dioxide emissions and improving the environmental impact of transport – this will help society meet targets for minimising climate change.