University of Nottingham to lead £13.6m in projects under East Midlands clean technology program

Three university-led projects will support advanced manufacturing, hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion and industrial innovation as part of a wider £20 million UKRI-funded initiative

The University of Nottingham will lead three projects worth £13.6 million under the East Midlands Advanced Manufacturing for Clean Energy program Image credit: University of Nottingham / Alex Wilkinson Media

The University of Nottingham will lead three projects worth £13.6 million under a new £20 million East Midlands program focused on developing clean energy and advanced manufacturing technologies.

Funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and led by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), the Advanced Manufacturing for Clean Energy (AMCE-LIPF) program will connect university research with industry, supporting businesses developing new technologies and helping manufacturers adopt digital and low-carbon production methods.

Nottingham will lead three of the program's four projects through its Faculty of Engineering, alongside the University of Derby's INFINITY project. Loughborough University, Nottingham Trent University and industry partners are also involved.

The investment forms part of the government's £500 million Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, delivered by UKRI to support regional research, innovation and economic growth.

Three Nottingham projects target clean energy and manufacturing

The university's £13.6 million allocation covers three projects addressing different stages of technology development, from early commercialization to industrial deployment.

The Advanced Manufacturing and Clean Energy (AMaCE) Accelerator will support entrepreneurs, startups and university spin-outs in developing research-led technologies into commercially viable products.

A second initiative, the Next Generation Single-Aisle (NGSA) Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Challenge, will focus on demonstrating and testing propulsion technologies against requirements set by major aircraft manufacturers.

The Connected Factories Programme will work with regional suppliers to introduce digital, automated and low-carbon manufacturing technologies, including those needed to produce new products at scale. It has also been allocated £3.2 million through the East Midlands Investment Zone initiative.

The projects are designed to address different stages of the research-to-market process, allowing businesses to engage with the program according to their development needs.

Professor Tom Rodden, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Nottingham, says:

"We are bringing our strengths and expertise in advanced manufacturing, transport decarbonisation and industry-focused research and partnership to accelerate the development of technologies that can create growth, attract investment and deliver real-world impact."

Program forecasts up to £340m in regional economic value

According to the university's announcement, the wider program is expected to generate between £325 million and £340 million in gross value for the East Midlands economy over its lifespan and support up to 1,775 jobs.

At least £36 million in private sector investment is also expected to match the public funding.

The investment builds on the region's existing manufacturing and aerospace industries. Manufacturing accounts for 11% of the East Midlands workforce, while the wider Midlands is home to 30% of UK aerospace businesses, supporting more than 56,000 jobs.

The program will complement the East Midlands Investment Zone's Innovation Accelerator, which funds university-business collaborations at earlier stages of prototyping and demonstration.

It also follows the East Midlands University Compact, signed earlier this year by EMCCA, the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and the University of Derby. The agreement commits the institutions to collaboration on research, skills, business development and regional growth.

Delivery of the Advanced Manufacturing for Clean Energy program is expected to begin later in 2026. Businesses interested in participating can contact the University of Nottingham through its business engagement team.

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