University initiative extended after funding boost

A u n ive r s i ty p ro je c t sup - porting North East manufacturers is celebrating after securing an extra £6million in funding.

The University of Sunderland’s Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing Project (SAM) aims to help businesses become more productive and sustainable.

The programme – which was due to end in December – has proved a huge success, providing £800,000 in matched-funding, as well as practical and research support to more than 200 SMEs across the region.

Now, it is set to continue its work through to 2023 after securing the extra £6m.

ProfessorJonTimmis,Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Commercial), at the University, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this grant to continue the important work in our support of manufacturing in the North East.

“The University is committed to ensuring we support businesses in this sector to innovate and grow. The work in SAM is critically important as we start to plan recovery due to the result of the pandemic.”

The initiative offers a range of assistance – tapping into the University’s academic resources, a team of industrial specialists and a number of factories with more than £1m worth of equipment – to offer both practical and research support.

Ken Teears, project manager at SAM, said: “Since the pandemic hit, the impact it has had on the nation’s manufacturing sector has been catastrophic. However, it has providedopportunitiessuchas re-shoring and bringing back in-house previously sub-contracted work.

“Now, more than ever, manufacturers need our support and this funding boost will go a long way to helping the region’s SMEs adapt and grow.”

Ken Teears, Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing.