MICG to mark official launch of £18.27 million SIPF project at Ceramics UK

The Midlands Industrial Ceramics Group (MICG) will be showcasing its work to place the region centre stage within the global advanced ceramics sector at a key event.

Members of the consortium are heading to Ceramics UK at the NEC to introduce the start of its research project, which is set to create thousands of jobs across the region over the next 10 years.

The move comes after the MICG secured £18.27 million government funding provided through UK Research and Innovation’s flagship Strength in Places Fund (SIPF), last year.

The MICG is hosting a stand (number 18-724), throughout the exhibition, which takes place on the 29 and 30 June.

From there, visitors can find out more about the goals of the group and the research being undertaken under the SIPF programme, as well as and gain insight into opportunities in the Midlands for those wanting to innovate and produce in the region.

A launch event is also taking place for invited guests on the evening of the 29 June.

Membership of the MICG is made up of blue-chip companies and SMEs including Rolls-Royce, JCB, Morgan Advanced Materials and Lucideon – as well as the universities of Birmingham, Leicester and Loughborough.

Tony Kinsella, the CEO of Lucideon, a lead partner of MICG, said: “Ceramics UK provides a great opportunity for the MICG to celebrate the start of its SIPF programme and to give visitors to the exhibition the opportunity to come to our stand and find out more about the project.

“The advanced ceramics sector is projected to be worth £143 billion by 2023 globally, and the SIPF funding means the Midlands is well-placed to be part of it.

“Ceramics UK provides a great opportunity for us to present how we are collectively working together to achieve our goals.”

The MICG has been established to ensure advanced ceramics help drive the competitiveness and success of Midlands’ advanced manufacturing by tackling key innovation challenges.

It combines tried-and-trusted industrial and academic expertise to create a unified process for the development and commercialisation of new and enhanced processes and products.

The SIPF funding, combined with partner investment and the creation of new business opportunities, will together make the MICG programme a £42.1 million project.

It is also set to unlock further investment from MICG’s partners, including opening-up opportunities for the next stage of the development, an Advanced Ceramics Campus.

This 130,000 square feet development, proposed for North Staffordshire, will make the scheme an £80 million plus project in total, and ultimately contribute towards the growth of 4,200 jobs in the region over the next decade.

More details about MICG can be found at https://micg.org.uk/