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The University of Sheffield is leading a bid to bring the recently announced Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) to South Yorkshire, based on the expertise that it has gained from developing the 'original' Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, will lead the development of the UK's NAMRC, recently announced as part of the Low Carbon Industrial Strategy launched by Lord Mandelson. The Group's position in the NAMRC underscores the role it will play in leading the UK supply chain's involvement in the worldwide development of nuclear power.

The NAMRC is expected to open in 2011 and will further expand the growing network of advanced manufacturing research centres in the UK. These strategic partnerships between industry and universities develop and share technologies and processes for high-value added manufacturing.

The Government-funded Centre will bring together an industrial consortium of around 30 companies from the UK nuclear supply chain. Universities will be selected to host the Centre and lead key research themes. The NAMRC will develop key manufacturing, management and training processes and support nuclear accreditation. It will also provide a focus for the UK supply chain's response to the increasing global market for nuclear power.

It would be useful in helping secure the bid if the AMRC could gain support from advanced manufacturing and engineering companies in the South Yorkshire area. The location of the NAMRC in the region would help secure its reputation as the centre of expertise for technology relating to the nuclear industry and potentially bring supply chain benefits to other companies in the area.

Companies that would like to support the bid are invited to e-mail their support to Professor Keith Ridgway at the AMRC who will be leading the bid. (Email: k.ridgway@amrc.co.uk)