UKRI Invests £44 Million in Four New Sustainability Research Hubs to Transform UK Manufacturing

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced a £44 million investment into four pioneering research hubs aimed at embedding sustainability into the core of UK manufacturing. These hubs will focus on key sectors steel, plastics, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology supporting industry to adopt cleaner, more efficient technologies in pursuit of net zero goals.

At Swansea University, the IGNITE hub (Indigenous Green-steel for Net Zero Innovation, Technology and Enterprise) will explore innovative approaches to strengthening the UK’s domestic steel industry while minimising environmental impact. Led by Professor Cameron Pleydell-Pearce, the hub will focus on scrap metal recycling, lifecycle extension, and sustainable design in partnership with industry leaders including Rolls-Royce, Nissan and Network Rail.

The University of Birmingham will host the Co-AIMS hub (Collaborative AI for Manufacturing Sustainability), which will investigate how artificial intelligence can be used to reduce waste and improve efficiency in manufacturing. Under the leadership of Professor Niels Lohs, the hub will work across sectors such as aerospace, automotive, food, and energy, with support from top UK universities and the Manufacturing Technology Centre.

At the University of Warwick, the EPSRC Manufacturing Research Hub for Sustainable Engineering Plastics will target the development of more sustainable, circular solutions for high-performance plastics. Led by Professor Ton Peijs, the hub will work with partners including Jaguar Land Rover, Siemens, BEKO and Biffa to advance the design and recyclability of plastics used in construction, vehicles, and electronics.

The Carbon-Loop Hub, based at the University of Edinburgh and led by Professor Stephen Wallace, will focus on bioengineering microbes capable of converting industrial waste into sustainable chemicals and materials. Central to this initiative will be the UK’s first BioFactory, an advanced facility designed to pioneer next-generation bioprocessing technologies.

Together, these research hubs represent a significant step forward in aligning UK manufacturing with environmental sustainability. Through cross-sector collaboration and cutting-edge research, they aim to drive innovation, reduce industrial waste, and position the UK as a global leader in green manufacturing solutions.