New UK Business Secretary Grant Shapps has announced a £95 million investment to the Henry Royce Institute headquartered at The University of Manchester.

The funding will enable new advanced materials research and development, critical to sectors including health and energy.

Awarded via the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), it follows an initial £258 million government investment made over five years to establish key infrastructure required by the advanced materials sector.

Royce aims to support the growth of excellence in UK materials research.

Shapps said: “R&D investment is a critical way to turbocharge Britain’s growth.

“Growing an economy fit for the future means harnessing the full potential of advanced materials, making science fiction a reality by supporting projects from regenerative medicine to robots developing new recycling capabilities, right across the country – including here in the heart of Manchester.

“Today’s £95 million investment will do just that, bringing together the brightest minds across our businesses and institutions to help future-proof sectors from healthcare to nuclear energy.”

Royce CEO Professor David Knowles said: “Royce and its partners across the UK, along with the advanced materials community, is very pleased to be able to confirm this Phase ll EPSRC funding. Innovation in advanced materials underpins a wider range of our industrial sectors and is fundamental to our economic growth.

“Our Partnership offers a unique combination of materials science expertise, state-of-the-art laboratories and fantastic collaboration spaces for the advanced materials community.

“As we enter our Phase ll operations we are focused now, more than ever, on working with the community to identify the key challenges and opportunities ahead of us and supporting the translation of innovative research into the viable products and systems needed to ensure a sustainable future for us all.”

EPSRC Executive Chair Professor Lynn Gladden said: “Advanced materials are crucial to driving growth across our key industries, from energy and transport to health, and ensuring they are sustainable for the future.

“This funding will build on the success of the Henry Royce Institute so far, to unleash the potential of this transformative technology for the benefit of the economy and the environment.”