Materials Processing Institute

The Materials Processing Institute has launched a new venture arm to generate additional investment to expand its research across the foundation industries.

By commercialising the Institutes innovative activities, the not-for-profit organisation hopes to accelerate the adoption of the technologies and processes necessary to transition to a sustainable low carbon economy.

The Teesside-based Institute, acknowledged as the UK’s centre for research and innovation in the steel and metals sector, is currently assessing which of its projects may be suitable.

Potential areas for commercialisation include the reduction of iron oxides using hydrogen, recovery of critical materials, including lithium, from used batteries, reducing nitrogen levels in steelmaking, and advances in powder metallurgy.

The initiative is headed by Dr Lucy Smith who has been appointed Ventures Lead and is supported by an expert committee made up of the Institute’s Chairman Jon Bolton, Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Neal, and Non-Executive Director David Pummell, who has extensive experience in commercialising renewable and cleantech ventures in Europe and USA.

Dr Smith joined the Materials Processing Institute in 2020 as Principal Researcher, later becoming Technical Collaboration Lead. In 2022 she was appointed Group Manager, Circular Economy, where she led the team in the development of innovations to maximise resource efficiency.

She has been tasked with identifying and commercialising valuable assets capable of attracting the necessary investment to bring them to market via a viable independent concern or through sale to a third party.

The Institute undertakes research on behalf of a range of industrial partners and leads PRISM, a programme of research for the UK’s steel and metals sector that supports innovation in decarbonisation, digital technologies, and the circular economy.

These projects are fully, or part funded by Innovate UK, with the Institute retaining the intellectual property on its work.

Chris McDonald, Chief Executive of the Institute, said: “Through the process of commercialisation, the Institute has an opportunity to transform its research and innovation into something highly marketable that speeds up its adoption and ensures it has much greater impact in industry and the wider economy.

“Our new ventures initiative will create new jobs and opportunities in Teesside and nationally.”

Dr Lucy Smith added: “Commercialisation of the Institutes IP will raise the profile of the Institute, its achievements and knowledge, while establishing exciting new opportunities, relationships, and partnerships. This will benefit industry and consumers alike whilst supporting the transition to a low carbon economy.”

ENDS

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF MATERIALS PROCESSING INSTITUTE

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew Douglas 01325 363 436

Photo caption: Dr Lucy Smith has been appointed Ventures Lead

Notes to editors:

Materials Processing Institute

The Materials Processing Institute is a research and innovation centre serving global steel and materials organisations that work in advanced materials, industrial decarbonisation, the circular economy, and digital technologies.

The Institute has served as the UK’s national steel innovation centre since 1944 having been set up by Sir Winston Churchill’s wartime government just before D-Day to equip the British steel industry for post-war reconstruction. It will celebrate its 80^th anniversary in 2024.

Through collaboration with its customers, the Institute provides a range of technology and R&D based services and consultancy. It also has pilot and demonstration facilities and an SME Technology Centre to support supply chain businesses with the development of new technologies and products.

Works with: steel, metals and alloys, chemical processes, aerospace and defence, energy, mining and quarrying, construction, rail, transport, and infrastructure, offshore, subsea, and nuclear.

The Materials Processing Institute includes developments funded through Tees Valley Combined Authority, through the Local Growth Fund (Growth Deal).