Mar 10 2006
Celebrating the news that PowdermatriX has received three years’ further support as part of the Materials Knowledge Transfer Network, over a hundred delegates attended the recent PowdermatriX Evolution conference.
Since its launch in 2003, PowdermatriX has developed a research & development portfolio of £5million including; four flagship EPSRC research projects, CASE Studentships, SPARK Award Projects and DTI Technology Fund Projects which were showcased at the event. Further funding from the DTI was announced at the meeting, bringing this figure up to almost £7.5million.
Parallel conference sessions took place along the themes of; Powder Blending, Transport and Compaction, Magnetics, Advanced Ceramics, Modelling, Nanomaterials and Powder Metals. Research Associates also presented their work using table top displays. The ‘best display’ prize was awarded to Andrew Heaton for demonstrating his work on Pressureless Microwave Sintering of .Boron Carbide. The prize for best Associate presentation went to Matthew Kite for Modelling of Clay Pipe Extrusion.
The guest speaker at the post event dinner for the research associates was Quentin Cooper from BBC Radio 4’s The Material World. Quentin spoke about the relationship between science and the media and gave the Associates food for thought, particularly about the aspects that make science newsworthy and suitable for broadcast.
John Liddle, Director of PowdermatriX, commented: “This is the fourth PowdermatriX conference and each year delegates enjoy this unique opportunity to network with potential customers, suppliers, researchers and competitors. They also take advantage of the poster sessions and exhibits which demonstrate the impact PowdermatriX supported projects are making on the industry.
“The really good news is that the positive initiatives made by PowdermatriX are set to continue as it joins the Materials Knowledge Transfer Network.”
Knowledge Transfer Networks form a key part of the DTI’s Technology Programme, which was developed as a direct result of its Innovation Review. The KTNs will build on the successful Faraday model, which has been key in encouraging industry and academia to work together to bring new products and processes to the market by extending the application of technology in a wider range of businesses.
Working within the Materials KTN, PowdermatriX Faraday now aims to contribute further to building a strong national strategy for materials and to increase its impact by expanding its research portfolio and widening the network.