Industrialist’s legacy lives on for the next generation
THE legacy of late Midland industrialist Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya is to be recognised after two tributes were announced by the Government.
Lord Bhattacharyya of Moseley, who died on March 1, was Regius Professor of Manufacturing at the University of Warwick and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, as well as a former Post columnist.
As the founder of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) he was recognised globally as a leading light in manufacturing, engineering and technology and played a key role in the sale of JLR to Tata.
This week Business Secretary Greg Clark announced in the Commons two tributes to reflect his achievements by championing excellence in engineering education, and industry-academia collaboration.
They will be:
A Bhattacharyya Award for sustained collaboration between universities and industry.
Administered by the Royal Academy of Engineering, it will recognise the types of partnership being championed by the Government’s Industrial Strategy, that bring together academia and industry to tackle challenges across sectors.
A Bhattacharyya Engineering Inclusion Programme in the south West Midlands area will also be created.
It will be a Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) education support programme for schools and colleges, providing activities, resources and bursaries to inspire young people to pursue engineering.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “I am pleased to announce a tribute to celebrate the contribution Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya has made to the UK, since he came here from India in 1961.
“He founded and led Warwick Manufacturing Group for nearly 40 years.
“Through his leadership, WMG has developed a global reputation in automotive research, the built environment, digital technology and healthcare systems, built on strong collaborations between academia and industry.
“Successive UK governments have drawn on his advice on manufacturing and technology and built strong lasting collaborative relationships with India and China. Kumar Bhattacharyya also championed high quality technical education, so the tribute I am announcing today reflects both these important aspects of his work.”
The University of Warwick’s ViceChancellor Professor Stuart Croft said: “These new national awards are both fitting tributes for a remarkable man.
“Lord Bhattacharyya was the ultimate personification of collaboration between universities and industry, he also had a passion for expanding the number of people undertaking engineering education and ensuring that everyone could access opportunities to do so.
“To this end he helped establish not just one but two WMG Academy schools for students aged 14-19 with an interest in science, technology, engineering and maths. I am sure that these new awards will inspire and reward many more people following his trailblazing path.”
The award and the programme will be opened officially later this year.