AgustaWestland launches new R&D Programme supported
by £10m Government grant
21 July 2011 – It was announced today that the Government
has awarded AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, a total of £10
million in research and development grants that will be delivered
through the Technology Strategy Board. The funding will go towards
a new programme consisting of three R&D projects.
The
programme will ensure that the UK maintains its leading position
for research, design and development in the fast growing civil
helicopter sector.
The Next Generation Vertical Lift programme
will encompass three R&D projects focusing on main and tail
rotor blades, transmission systems and flight trials.
The novel and innovative technologies to be
researched, developed and delivered as part of the programme
include soft beam main rotor blades, innovative blade damper
technology, fit and forget gearboxes, real time rotor blade health
monitoring and greener more sustainable helicopter transmission
systems.
Luciano Marcocci, Chief Technical Officer,
AgustaWestland said “This project will enable AgustaWestland to
retain its position at the forefront of rotorcraft technology,
helping to secure high value manufacturing jobs in the UK. As we
enter challenging times it is vital that AgustaWestland retains its
key technological skills so that we can succeed in future
markets.”
AgustaWestland will collaborate with SMEs
including Shearline Ltd and with the Universities of Bristol and
Liverpool who will lead on specific Research and Development
(R&D) activities, further strengthening AgustaWestland’s links
with SMEs and key academic research establishments in the UK.
This programme of work will also strengthen
AgustaWestland’s engagement with other leading manufacturers as a
Tier 1 partner in the recently formed National Composites Centre
(NCC) in Bristol, which has been selected to become part of the new
High Value Manufacturing Technology Innovation Centre, delivered by
the Technology Strategy Board, These facilities are vital for
keeping UK manufacturing at the cutting edge of technology today
and in future.
Notes for Editors
The Next Generation Vertical Lift
programme
This is a three year collaborative programme
that builds on the success of two earlier projects supported
by the Technology Strategy Board. Rotor Embedded Actuator Control
Technology (REACT) and Rotorcraft Technology Validation Programme
(RTVP) both of which are focussed on developing features that
significantly improve helicopter blade performance, vibration
control and vehicle health management.
Development of these technologies are key
aspects of the UK aerospace industry’s National Aerospace
Technology Strategy (NATS), which aims to deliver world leading
technologies in the UK to the global market
The Next Generation Vertical Lift programme
will also be instrumental in helping to secure key vertical lift
research, design, development and manufacturing jobs in the UK for
the current and next generation of apprentices, graduates and
engineers.
The Technology Strategy Board
is a business-led government body which works to create economic
growth by ensuring that the UK is a global leader in
innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings
together business, research and the public sector, supporting and
accelerating the development of innovative products and services to
meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and help build
the future economy. For more information please visit: the
Technology Strategy Board
website.