WMG News - Latest news from WMG

Researchers from the Low Carbon Vehicle Technology Project are hosting an event that will discuss the practical issues with the systems integration of high voltage drive systems for electric and hybrid vehicles.

They will present the key architectural options and the state-of-the-art and system integration factors for the major high voltage components. The overall system integration of the high voltage driveline will be discussed and feedback presented from practical experiences on small volume projects.

The event is taking place on Wednesday 13 July.

Attendance is free, but you are requested to pre- register.

For more information and outline of the programme.

WMG welcomed the Vice-Chancellor and the senior leadership team from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa. WMG and NMMU are developing a series of innovative programmes focussed on the global opportunities in areas such as automotive and materials, and areas of shared interest such as provision of efficient and effective health care.

The American Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) has awarded Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya an Honorary Membership Award. This award is one of the most prestigious honours presented by the society and is reserved for those exhibiting professional eminence among manufacturing engineers.

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya was recognised for his ability and stature, plus contribution of his substantial skills and talent to accomplish the goals of society. He is the only person from outside of the USA to receive the award in the last ten years.

The Royal Academy of Engineering and TATA Steel Group have announced today, Friday 1st July, that they are to fund a prestigious Research Chair (new Professor) in Low Carbon Materials Technologies at WMG at the University of Warwick.

WMG at The University of Warwick are pleased and proud to be hosting the 5^th Saudi International Conference 2011 (SIC05) which runs on the University campus from 23rd – 26th of June and were even more delighted to welcome HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom, who visited the conference today, Friday 24^th June 2011.

Independent business publisher Insider have ranked Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya number one in their new 2011 Power 100 list.

Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya is founder and director of WMG. He received this accolade from Insider for:

“…his groundbreaking work in promoting joint ventures between business and academia and the huge amount of influence he wields over the regional economy.”

Other business figures to feature in this year's Power 100 top ten include JLR chief executive Dr Ralf Speth, Hadley Group chief executive - and Black Country LEP chairman - Stewart Towe and SCH founder and chairman Sir Peter Rigby.

2010 saw the 30th Anniversary of WMG, that was established by Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya in 1980 in order to reinvigorate UK manufacturing, through the application of cutting edge research and effective knowledge transfer.

More details of the Insider Power 100 list can be found on the InsiderMedia website

For further information please contact:

Peter Dunn, Head of Communications
Communications Office, University House,
University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 8UW, United Kingdom
email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk 
Tel: +44 (0)24 76 523708 Mobile/Cell: +44 (0)7767 655860

PR92 23^rd June 2011

Work is soon to begin to build a £5 million home at the University of Warwick for a £12 million programme designed to help Midlands SMEs access some of the world's leading product and service design technology.

The Coleshill office of Willmott Dixon has been chosen to undertake the £5 million project to house the new International Institute for Product and Service Innovation (IIPSI) at WMG at the University of Warwick. The company’s surveyors were on site for the first time this week.

On Thursday 16^th June, we were very pleased to host a visit from Baroness Hanham, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Communities and Local Government. The Baroness visited the Low Carbon Vehicle Technology Project which is accelerating the introduction of next generation low carbon vehicles through advances in key technology areas such as batteries, motors and materials.

Baroness Hanham enjoyed detailed discussions with project theme leaders as she walked around project theme demonstrations of some of the key technology advances in the programme. She then enjoyed a roundtable discussion with the team and some the LCVTP partner companies including Claytex, GRM Consulting and Alpha Adhesives, which are actively involved in the project and in implementing its developments.

Midlands small and medium sized manufacturing companies are facing increasing demands from customers for lighter weight components made with the very latest, unfamiliar, and even exotic, metal alloys.

The cost of learning how to use such new materials is a real burden and a potential barrier to new business. But that technical support is already available for free from WMG at the University Warwick who are to mount a special event to showcase those resources for Midlands SMEs on Wednesday 20th July 2011 from 9.30 – 4.30pm

WMG research project, NHS local, has been nominated for a Broadcast Digital Award in the category of best use of Digital Technology.

Professor Lucy Hooberman, WMG Director of Digital Media and Innovation leads for Warwick and is partnered by Professor John Powell of Warwick Medical School. "It's quite an achievement for a digital web service which has not been commissioned by a broadcaster to break through into the Broadcast awards - it's good for the NHS and it's good for Warwick".

Other nominations include:

• ChatNav Seven Days, Holler, for Channel4
• Corrie Extra: Tram Crash News Flash, Coronation Street Digital for ITV Online & On Demand
• Fonejacker App, Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4
• NHS local, Maverick Television
• The Million Pound Drop Live (play along game), Endemol / Monterosa for Channel 4
• SuperMe, Somethin' Else/Preloaded for Channel 4

WMG Honorary Fellow, Jonnie Turpie, is Digital Media Head at Maverick Television the lead partner of NHS local.

NHS local was designed to connect people living in the WestMidlands to frontline staff in the NHS as well as providing online health resources and information using video, blogs and interactive tools.

Professor Hooberman is leading the experience design research to understand the end user's needs whether that be our citizens or NHS Staff. She is working with the MRA (Market Research Agency) award winning consumer insight team Essential research.