Membership voice, January - February 2003
One of the purposes of the Bulletin is to report progress in the Core Research Programme (CRP). The CRP is TWI's programme of applied R&D, funded principally by Industrial Member subscriptions. One objective is to create knowledge and information relevant to TWI's Industrial Membership.
The CRP is run as a series of some 50 projects in a three year rolling programme. The budget is about £5M. By nature, CRP projects are pre-competitive, for example evaluating the weldability of new alloys, establishing the potential of new processes or improving material testing procedures.
Another important objective is to enhance staff skills for underpinning the advisory services to Industrial Members. Additional aims are to help develop new TWI technical capabilities and to maintain TWI's position as the world centre for materials joining technology.
Managing CRP projects, reporting progress to the Research Board, writing Bulletin articles and producing Members' reports provide excellent training for TWI staff, enabling them to become experts in a field selected to reflect the needs of the industrial sectors represented in TWI's membership.
In 2003, we are entering the final year of the current three year programme, and many projects will be reported to Members. At the same time, we are starting the consultation process for the next programme, which will run from 2004 to 2006.
As in previous years, the Research Board will aim at a balanced programme, representing the needs of all the sectors in Membership, with a split of a third to two thirds between technology push and industry pull.
The CRP is your programme. My colleague Geoff Booth will shortly invite all Industrial Members to submit candidate ideas for projects. Make the most of it! You may also wish to take an active part in the CRP by supplying materials, equipment, or data. Above all, stay in touch. I say again, it is your programme.
Fred Delany
Head of Industrial Member Services
