Universities in the West of Scotland will be offered nearly £16 million from the Scottish Funding Council to form a leading research partnership in engineering.

The Glasgow Research Partnership in Engineering (GRPE), a major collaboration between the universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde, Glasgow Caledonian and Paisley, will support Scotland's ambitions in world class engineering and research. It is part of a larger investment of nearly £100 million to support engineering research pooling through the Scottish Research Partnership.

The funding will be used to appoint 25 new research staff along with significant investment in research infrastructure including equipment and postgraduate training. This will allow the universities to pool experience and resources for cross-disciplinary research.

The GRPE will focus on three key areas:

ﾷ Electronic, Communications and Power Systems
ﾷ Environmental, Infrastructure and Transportation Engineering
ﾷ Mechanics of Materials, Structures and Bioengineering

Professor Jim McDonald, Director of the GRPE and Deputy Principal at the University of Strathclyde, said: "The new Partnership will build on Scotland's international reputation for engineering, and create exciting new research capabilities. By bringing together some of the best minds in engineering and pooling our expertise, experience and links with industry, we can place the West of Scotland at the forefront of engineering research on the world stage."

Dean of Engineering at Glasgow University, Professor John Hancock, added: "This is a tremendous boost for engineering in the West of Scotland. The investment will act as a spring-board for the world-class research which already takes place here and it recognises the importance of engineering excellence in today's world.

"The Glasgow Research Partnership will bring real benefits to society and expand our understanding of engineering."

Councillor Steven Purcell, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: 'The West of Scotland has always been known for its engineering excellence and expertise. As the Glasgow Research Partnership identifies new technologies, we can exploit these to help grow our economy further and build on this proud record.

'This partnership is great news for Glasgow. Our universities already enjoy world class reputations and working together can only enhance this, delivering benefits for the entire country.'

Roger McClure, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, added: "Strength in engineering innovation, design, and execution remains as crucial an underpinning to our prosperity today as in the past.

"It is an area in which Scotland has a proud history of excellence. This major investment in and commitment by Scotland's universities is intended to re-establish that excellence and thereby contribute to Scotland's economy and infrastructure.'

More information on the partnership can be found at the following website: www.changingtheway.co.uk

Kate Richardson (K.Richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk)

For more information please contact the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3683 or email K.Richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk, or contact the University of Strathclyde?s Press Office on 0141 548 4123

First published: 30 November 2006