Northern Powerhouse science plans set out by Chancellor

Ambitious proposals for a potential major new National Institute for Materials Research and Innovation welcomed.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne today (Wednesday 10 September) welcomed ambitious plans for a potential major new National Institute for Materials Research and Innovation in the north of England.

Chief Scientific Adviser Mark Walport has been considering options for the centre in response to the Chancellor’s speech in June where he called for action to capitalise on the north’s real strengths in scientific innovation and its importance in driving recovery there.

Central to his plan is the opportunity to build on the north’s expertise in materials science – the development of super lightweight, strong and flexible materials that have applications across a range of industries like healthcare, energy or transport.

Recent breakthroughs include safer nuclear fuels that can operate at high temperatures helping to prevent nuclear disasters such as Fukushima; a super strong steel replacement that can operate at extreme pressure allowing access to hard to reach oil and gas reserves; and biodegradable implants that dissolve safely in the body for use in reconstruction surgery – particularly for burns and cleft lip and palate treatment – vastly improving results and reducing discomfort.

George Osborne said:

"This is another big step in delivering our plan for the Northern Powerhouse. Science is at the heart of the economic prospects for the north of England. I asked Mark Walport to develop exciting plans – and this proposal is certainly exciting.

"It would put the north of England at the centre of the search for the new materials of the future – and bring new jobs and investment as these materials are developed. That’s what the investment in graphene has already proved."

Mark Walport said

"I have been working with northern universities to catalyse imaginative and ambitious responses to the Chancellor’s recent challenge. For proposals to be successful in strengthening the UK’s academic and industrial base we must build on our existing excellence in research.

"This proposal for a National Institute for Materials Research and Innovation is based in the north but has national scope, integrating strengths across the UK in academia and industry, and must be able to operate at a scale that no one university can achieve alone."

Mark Walport will continue to develop the proposals in consultation with institutions and industry across the country. The final decisions about whether to proceed with the centre will be taken in the Autumn Statement.