The Lincoln Engineering Hub

Through an innovative public/private education partnership, the University of Lincoln has developed a £37million 10-year business plan to establish a School of Engineering that aims to engage with employers in technology transfer and development and knowledge exchange, in order to enhance business competitiveness and the regional economy.  The School will consist of two components: the Lincoln Engineering Hub and the academic School.

The Lincoln Engineering Hub is a major strategic capital investment in the East Midlands technology and innovation infrastructure, creating a centre of specialist engineering technology transfer excellence in Lincoln, which due to its unique focus on industrial power and energy will have a truly regional and national impact.

The Lincoln School of Engineering will have direct linkages with Teal Innovation Park, which will be a serviced employment park of regional significance for businesses, particularly from the high value engineering sector (which forms a large part of Lincoln’s employment base), to locate and grow. 

Driving innovation within the advanced engineering R&D base the Hub will provide the infrastructure to support engaged research, extensive technology transfer and knowledge exchange. It will work closely with the SME supply chain of major regional sector leaders in this field (e.g. Siemens, Rolls Royce). With a particular research focus on reduced fuel emissions, ignition deposits and fuel consumption, it will position businesses engaged at the forefront of environmental sustainability.

The Hub will bring together the academic expertise of the University of Lincoln (the research supported by close links with Loughborough University ) with the industrial credibility of one of the worlds leading industrial power and energy providers, Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Limited, and other industrial partners.

The project will provide the facilities to offer the SME community access to leading edge research, R&D equipment, showcase events, conferences and drop-in activities that they would not otherwise be able to access. SMEs will be able gain access to the Hub to derive resource, environmental and power efficiencies that are not currently available to them.

Project aims:

Funding for the Lincoln Engineering Hub will create a new build 1667 m² facility on a contaminated, brownfield site located on the main University of Lincoln Brayford Campus . The campus is located adjacent to the new, £7.1M, Lincoln Innovation Centre (the ‘Think Tank’) further supporting the engaged innovation agenda of the University and the local authorities. The Hub will work closely with ‘Think Tank’ and the Innovation Lincolnshire programme.

The Hub builds on an innovative partnership created between the University and industrial partners within Lincoln , and will have the potential to increase SME productivity through innovation, improved resource efficiency and the creation of sustainable economic activity within the East Midlands . Physically linked to the core teaching facilities of the School of Engineering (but established as a separate entity), the Hub will allow the consolidation of a number of activities within it, including:

·        Leading edge R&D testing equipment

·        Dedicated demonstration facilities

·        Dedicated engaged research facilities

·        Training and R&D space for rental by anchor tenant(s)

·        An environment designed to engage and support SME needs.

Through the Hub, SMEs will be able to access:

·        Demonstration equipment

·        Research (leading to new product and service development)

·        Education

·        Training

·        Knowledge exchange products and services (e.g. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Short Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, student & graduate placements etc).

This will allow businesses within the advanced engineering supply chain access to a range of products and services currently not possible. 

As part of the 10-year revenue operating model the Hub will have dedicated employer engagement staff, supported by administration, technical and marketing support to ensure that the facilities and services are appropriately promoted. They will also ensure that the businesses needs of the SME community are met.

It is also important to place this project in the wider context of the University of Lincoln ’s employer engagement and knowledge exchange activity. Through the central service department, Enterprise@Lincoln, and dedicated devolved support within each of the five faculties, the University is currently investing over £1.5M per year to increase its engagement with the wider business community leading to effective technology transfer and knowledge exchange. The outreach activity of the Lincoln Engineering Hub will be complemented and augmented by this existing activity and the networks and partnership activity it has generated.

Start Date: 1^st January 2010

Completion Date: 1^st December 2013