Universities in the UK have formed a national consortium to improve the country’s aerospace sector by creating a network of research facilities.
Offering a centralised point of contact for the aerospace research, the new National Aerospace Research Consortium (NARC) will cover all areas of aviation, including airlines, aircraft, airspace and airports.
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NARC will function in line with the Aerospace Technology Institute’s four technology pillars: aircraft of the future; future propulsion; smart, connected and electric aircraft of the future; and aero structures of the future. It will also include an additional National Airborne Test stream.
It will also support the flow of highly qualified aerospace engineers by offering graduate and postgraduate learning provision.
The University of Bristol; University of Cambridge; Cranfield University; Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine; University of Manchester; University of Nottingham; Queen’s University Belfast; University of Sheffield; University of Southampton and the University of Strathclyde are the founding members of NARC.
The universities have already commenced work on the future propulsion pillar with a collaborative proposal to develop a network of advanced electric and hybrid-electric propulsion development facilities across the UK.
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By GlobalDataCranfield University Aerospace director and NARC co-ordinator Iain Gray said: “The National Aerospace Research Consortium (NARC), consisting of the UK’s leading aerospace universities, will aim to directly support UK-based industry through the provision of accessible world-class research facilities, future skills development and centralised research co-ordination.
“We aim to put NARC in the same league as other international entities, such as NASA, ONERA or NRC, and support the UK as a global leader in future aerospace research.”
In addition, NARC aims to partner with the global aerospace industry to promote the UK’s research capability, thereby facilitating collaborative research and inward investment.
