Rolls-Royce and University announce new partnership

Launch of new research centre

A major new gas turbine research centre, based in Cambridge, has been announced.

In a unique new partnership with the University of Cambridge, Rolls-Royce is funding a five year programme worth around £1.5 million a year. This will enable the University to extend research in areas including combustion technologies and whole-engine issues.

The University Gas Turbine Partnership (UGTP) extends a 30 year relationship for the University and Rolls-Royce. It also marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) at Cambridge, one of 19 such centres around the country.

In 1989, the company funded a Professorship of Aerothermal Technology and two years later this relationship was formalised by creating a Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre at Cambridge's Whittle Laboratory. This centre has focused on research in gas turbine compressors and turbines. The Whittle Laboratory was opened in 1972 and, with the continued support of Rolls-Royce, has become one of the world's premier turbomachinery research centres. The new UGTP will include the Whittle Laboratory, but also research activities in the Department of Engineering.

The Director of the UGTP will be Professor Ann Dowling FREng, Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Department of Engineering. The UGTP activities will be co-ordinated for Rolls-Royce by Dr David Clarke, Head of Technology Strategy and Research.

The new UTGP will include two professorships, two lectureships and a range of support staff to run the day-to-day activities.

As well as helping to strengthen it's position as a world leading supplier of power systems for aerospace, marine and energy markets, Rolls Royce will promote individual projects in the UGTP, some of which will be jointly funded by the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council), by the Department of Trade and Industry under the Government's CARAD initiative and by the European Commission.

Professor Ann Dowling, Director of the UGTP, said that this partnership brings together the University of Cambridge and Rolls-Royce, both of whom are committed to technological excellence and builds on the trust and mutual understanding developed through decades of collaboration.

"At the heart of the partnership is a group of academics, world leaders in their own fields, who believe that research is most exciting and challenging when it addresses issues of relevance to industry. Such projects attract excellent students - it is thrilling for students to see their research results influencing the next generation of aircraft engines," she said.

"Many industries fund individual research projects. What is special about this relationship with Rolls-Royce is that they are making a commitment to support the research leaders - professors and lecturers - and these additional staff posts enable us to expand the scope of our activities. Moreover, through the rolling five-year agreement, we can offer job security to researchers and technical staff.

"Whittle developed his jet engine while a student in our Department. Equally inventive minds are needed to work on today's research challenges for the next generation of gas turbines."