East Midlands

Headquarters for a new hi-tech institute will be set up at Loughborough University to help the UK reduce its carbon footprint.

Science and Innovation Minister, Ian Pearson, announced today that Loughborough will host the new Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), as part of a Midlands Consortium. Together with Nottingham and Birmingham Universities it will work on bringing more focus, ambition and collaboration to the UK's work of science.

Mr Pearson said the final short listed bids underlined the huge level of expertise, commitment and potential that exists throughout the UK academic community. The ETI Board made the decision, with Loughborough getting the vote because it offers an outstanding energy innovation environment, based in the University's Science and Enterprise Park.

The Minister said:

"The selection process has been particularly challenging, as all the final short listed bids underlined the huge level of expertise, commitment and potential that exists throughout the UK academic community.

"I am delighted that Loughborough is to be the home of the Energy Technologies Institute. It will be the hub for this critical research, development and deployment programme, which will develop secure, reliable and affordable low carbon energy technologies. The ETI will help to establish the UK as one of the leaders in global clean energy development and deployment.

"Universities in the Midlands and in other centres of excellence around the UK benefit from today's decision and will work together to deliver low-carbon energy solutions."

The appointment of Dr David Clarke as chief executive of the Institute was also announced. He will take up his new post on 1 January 2008.
The ETI is bringing together some of the world's biggest companies - BP, Caterpillar, EDF Energy, E.ON, Rolls-Royce and Shell. Additional private sector partners are being identified to match the Government's commitment of up to £550m over the next decade, which offers the Institute with a potential budget of over £1 billion over a lifetime of a minimum of 10 years.

Universities are encouraged to get involved in future research programmes through the Institute. At the heart of its ethos is to seek out and engage expertise and experience wherever it exists, nationally or internationally, and create a culture of collaboration to ensure the best possible outcomes for its programmes.

Notes to Editors
1. The objectives of the Institute are to:

* Accelerate the deployment of new low-carbon energy technologies, including the efficient production and use of energy, in support of the UK's energy and climate change goals
* Provide a strategic focus in the UK for low carbon energy R&D, demonstration and deployment (RDDD)
* Increase the level of funding in the UK for low carbon energy RDDD
* Promote international technology collaboration
* Increase UK R&D capacity
* Promote people, skills and knowledge sharing

2. The announcement was made at the formal signing by member organisations of the Heads of Agreement for the new Institute.

3. The decision follows an extensive nine-month evaluation exercise with bids assessed by representatives of the funding organisations on the basis of energy research capability, reputation and culture; site facilities and accessibility; and commitment to the ETI.

4. The 2006 budget included announcement of intention to establish a new energy and environment research institute, as a 50:50 public-private partnership with a budget of £100 million p.a. for at least 10 years. A detailed prospectus was published in September 2006 to seek broader participation and views on the Energy Technologies Institute. It brings together public and private sector R&D in the UK to set strategic direction and fund its delivery. It will provide the UK with a world-class means for delivering applied energy technology research to underpin eventual deployment.

5. The Institute will operate on a "distributed" basis with research and demonstration undertaken by centres of excellence across the UK and overseas, as necessary. The projects these teams deliver will accelerate the progress of industrially applicable innovative energy technologies through the innovation chain to enable some commercial deployment within 10 years.

6. Research organisations across the UK were invited in January to indicate any interest in hosting the ETI Chief Executive and support staff. The initial submissions were considered by a Host Selection Group representing the industrial and public sector funding partners against a set of high level criteria. A shortlist of five bidders were invited to work-up detailed proposals., From these five, three were invited to give final presentations to the evaluation committee in early September, following which the Midlands Consortium led by Loughborough was selected.. More information is available at http://www.eti.co.uk.

7. Dr David Clarke is currently Head of Technology Strategy at Rolls-Royce plc. He has been involved in collaborative research and development of advanced technologies for over 20 years leading a range of research groups including Rolls-Royce's Advanced Materials development activities and its corporate Strategic Research Centre. With the latter group he has led Rolls-Royce's evaluation and development of new technology opportunities in fields as diverse as fuel cells, electrical propulsion technologies and advanced computational diagnostics. He is currently responsible for development and management of the Rolls-Royce plc global research strategy. This includes the company's multi-million pound university based research programme at the 29 Rolls-Royce University Technology Centres in the UK, North America, mainland Europe and Asia.

Dr Clarke is a member of EPSRC Council, chairs their Industrial User Panel and is Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde and a Member of the Science Council for the North West Development Agency. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials Metals and Mining and a Chartered Engineer.

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF DIUS BY GOVERNMENT NEWS NETWORK EAST MIDLANDS.

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