TWI's Collaborative Projects

TWI is extensively involved in collaborative research and technology transfer projects across all of its technologies and industry sectors. These projects are generally undertaken in response to calls for proposals issued by public sector funding agencies. Most common amongst these are the European Commission (Framework research projects), DTI (research projects and knowledge transfer networks) and regional funding agencies within the UK (research, infrastructure and technology transfer).

Collaborative projects currently represent some 20-25% of TWI's total project activity and therefore a very important source of knowledge for TWI's Industrial members and project partners alike. In particular, benefits of project participation include:

Access to new skills and technologies
Substantial gearing of partners own funds
Creation of a large project with critical mass that can achieve objectives far beyond those which a single company might realise
Development of new partnerships and supply chain relationships
Provision of training and increasing experience of researchers
Creation of new products and processes with significant exploitation potential

TWI has been involved in the winning and delivery of such projects for some 20 years, with over 150 projects successfully delivered or currently in progress. TWI can assist Industrial Members in identifying suitable topics for collaborative activities, preparing proposals and managing and undertaking research and technology transfer.

Contacts: Peter Oakley, Adrian Duncan.