Manchester was the epicentre of the 1st industrial revolution and can lead the 4th revolution Manufacturing is often a measure of the prosperity of nations and an essential source of development and innovation. This sector contributes 10% of the UK’s GDP, 45% of its exports, and employs approximately 2.7 million people. However, between 2005 and 2016 the UK has dropped from the 5th largest manufacturing nation in the world to 7th, being overtaken by South Korea and Italy. We continue to lag behind Germany and the USA in productivity. Despite a myriad of research and innovation funding schemes aimed at keeping UK universities at the forefront of industrially applicable scientific advancements, UK manufacturers are finding it difficult to recruit people with relevant advanced technical and engineering skills. This difficulty is being further exacerbated by the rate at which new technologies such as digital manufacturing are evolving, and the adoption by manufacturers of new advanced materials to support better productivity.
Professor Paulo Bartolo, Chair in Advanced Manufacturing, The University of Manchester
Dr Shaden Jaradat, Research Strategy Coordinator, The University of Manchester
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