Research grant awarded to study supply chain resilience of health and life sciences sector

The Midlands Engine Observatory has awarded a research grant to the Manufacturing Technology Centre to research the resilience of health and life sciences manufacturing in the Midlands.

The research will identify how existing manufacturing capabilities can be supported to enhance international competitiveness and resilience. It will be undertaken by the Manufacturing Technology Centre and the Healthcare Technologies Institute from the University of Birmingham who will work with local NHS representatives to ensure that any interventions identified through the work will benefit the NHS.

With the report due this summer, the team led by Dr. Thorsten Kampmann will identify what technical capabilities are needed for business resilience amongst suppliers in the health and life sciences sector.

Companies from the wider manufacturing sectors who have repurposed their production lines to meet the demands of the pandemic will also be studied in an effort to understand how the maturity of a business and the technical capabilities of its staff relates to their resilience and adaptability.

The Midlands Engine Observatory provides comprehensive and contemporary data, analysis and intelligence on the whole of the Midlands economy in order to inform regional and national level policy and projects.

Recent research commissioned by the Observatory includes work to understand the state of regional supply chains, including the impact of Covid-19 and the UK’s exit from the European Union.

The findings of these projects will help inform policy-making decisions as well as add to the burgeoning knowledge base of supply chains in the Midlands Engine region.

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