KCMC strengthens University of Manchester connections with Solvay

KCMC has played a key role enabling major collaboration in new materials development between the University of Manchester (UoM) and international chemical company Solvay SA. Applications will be in the healthcare, sensors and biocatalyst sectors.

Marking a major milestone in open innovation for both organisations, a new framework agreement builds on existing collaboration between UoM and Solvay, one of Belgium’s leading industrial companies.

“The projects will utilize the considerable expertise at UoM in new materials design and development in support of Solvay strategic objectives and clearly demonstrate how the KCMC can help drive innovation, commented KCMC Director Dr. John Conti Ramsden.

The agreement will engage lead academics from schools in the University’s Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences with Solvay’s open innovation research programmes. It represents an investment by Solvay of more than Ł1.4m over four years.

KCMC’s key contributions were to introduce Solvay to the key scientific experts at UoM and to facilitate the development of the scope and contractual arrangements for the projects.

The collaboration will include new research projects to discover and develop novel materials for use in regenerative medicine, the development of leading edge biocatalysts targeted at key lifescience processes and leading edge sensors.

Applications will include environmental monitoring, healthcare and the tailoring of bioscience processes.

Bernd Wilkes, Senior Executive Vice President of Solvay’s global business unit for Special Chemicals, said: “This ongoing collaboration with The University of Manchester marks an important milestone in Solvay’s open innovation programme of research and development”.

Johannes Eicher, R&D Director for Special Chemicals added: “Our long term association with the University includes the research teams covered by this agreement but also the Organic Materials Innovation Centre and the Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry - and recognises their world class capability”.

Solvay is a major global player in chemicals and plastics, with a notable emphasis on innovation and sustainability. It has an interest in UK north west-based fuel cell developer ACAL Energy.