Government launches new national centre of expertise in chemistry

The Science & Technology Facilities Council Daresbury Laboratory is playing a key part in driving growth and innovation in the UK chemicals industry as part of a new centre launched by John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

The Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry (KCMC) brings together leading edge knowledge and capabilities in applied materials chemistry from Daresbury Laboratory and the universities of Bolton, Liverpool and Manchester. It will provide a national centre of expertise to drive innovative, multi-disciplinary research and knowledge transfer for companies of all sizes by providing a ‘one stop shop’ for companies to access a substantial range of world class facilities and expertise in materials chemistry.

With an initial investment of £15 million from the North West Regional Development Agency and academic partner institutions, the centre will drive industrial growth for the UK chemistry-using industries through the coordination, development and exploitation of leading edge materials chemistry research.

John Denham said:

“It is highly appropriate for this new chemistry hub to include Daresbury. It fits well with our ambition for the campus to be a major science and innovation centre of national and international importance.

The Daresbury heritage is synonymous with some of the very best science that has been carried out here and across the world. I believe that by working together we can ensure its future can be equally bright and strong.”

Read more:

http://www.stfc.ac.uk/PMC/PRel/STFC/kcmc270309.aspx

and

http://www.dius.gov.uk/news_and_speeches/press_releases/daresbury

and

http://www.materialschemistry.org/kcmc/index.html