Two new research hubs set to revolutionise UK steel and digital manufacturing have been launched with the help of University of Sheffield researchers.
IGNITE hub, led by Swansea University in collaboration with professor Lenny Koh from the University of Sheffield’s Management School, will transform the UK’s steel industry’s supply chain, enhancing both the physical infrastructure and national security.
The new hub will explore how cutting-edge university research can accelerate industrial decarbonisation in the UK manufacturing industry. The primary goal is to deliver strategic, environmental and economic resilience for key strategic areas of the UK manufacturing economy including defence, transport and energy.
With the UK’s growing green steel demand outpacing domestic supply, IGNITE aims to boost domestic steel production, cut emissions and support low-carbon business models. It will develop smarter ways to manage, track and recycle the UK’s abundant supply of high-quality scrap whilst reshaping steel design and use to maintain quality and extend product life.
IGNITE stands for Indigenous Green-steel for Net-zero Innovation, Technology and Enterprise. It is funded by an £11 million investment from the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) as part of their flagship Sustainable Manufacturing Research Hubs program and is complemented by £11.9 million in partner funding.
Professor Lenny Koh, deputy director of IGNITE and chair in operations management at the University of Sheffield, said: “The IGNITE manufacturing hub will play an important role to enhance UK security, resilience and competitiveness across defence, energy and transport by transforming the UK manufacturing industry through holistic sustainability and supply chain optimisation of circular steels.
“The groundbreaking transdisciplinary work in IGNITE includes green steels / new materials, novel technologies, new models and tools co-developed with partners via a demand-led approach, maximising impact opportunities from day one.”
Co-AIMS hub, led by Birmingham University in collaboration with professor Ash Tiwari from the University of Sheffield’s School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, will revolutionise UK manufacturing through Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help achieve Net Zero by 2050.
The Co-AIMS (Collaborative AI for Manufacturing Sustainability) Hub looks to pioneer AI-powered manufacturing ecosystems that eliminate waste, boost productivity, and increase sustainability.
The hub will work with manufacturers, technology providers, innovation centres, business associations, and regional authorities. This partnership will deliver safe, ethical, and inclusive technologies for sectors including automotive, aerospace, clean energy, and food and drink.
The Co-AIMS team includes experts in manufacturing, AI, robotics, ethics, and sustainability who will work with industrial partners to influence national policy, promote ethical AI adoption, as well as organising education and public engagement initiatives.
Professor Ashutosh Tiwari FREng, deputy vice-president for innovation at the University of Sheffield and Airbus/RAEng chair in digital manufacturing, leading Co-AIMS at Sheffield, said: “We are really excited to be part of this hub.
“Co-AIMS presents a timely and strategic opportunity to reshape how we design and operate our factories by embedding AI into future industrial ecosystems – from smart machines to distributed logistics. We look forward to working with our academic and industrial partners to realise the productivity, sustainability and resilience benefits that AI promises for future manufacturing.”
