Rochdale Development Agency is inviting Greater Manchester businesses to celebrate the launch of CEAMS, Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability, with an event aimed at helping organisations become more innovative and sustainable through advanced materials.
The new state-of-the-art centre, supporting the development and commercialisation of advanced sustainable materials, will bring high-impact investment to Rochdale and the Greater Manchester city region.
CEAMS will be located in in Atom Valley, a vast, dynamic area of 17 million sq ft flexible employment space which when complete will offer 20,000 new highly skilled roles within world-class businesses.
Taking place on Tuesday 5 March from 9:30 am – 1 pm in the newly renovated Rochdale Town Hall, this in-person launch event will bring together industry experts, researchers, and enthusiasts to share with businesses how CEAMS can help them explore the latest advancements in materials science and sustainability as well as how to reap the benefits.
With engaging presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, businesses will gain valuable insights into the future of sustainable materials and have the opportunity to connect with professionals in the field and stay at the forefront of innovation.
At the event, Steve Rumbelow, CEO of Rochdale Council will share the importance of CEAMS to the levelling up agenda and Atom Valley.
Then there will be the opportunity to hear from a keynote speaker and panel of industry experts:
Keynote speaker:
Katherine Bennett, CBE FRAeS, Chief Executive Officer, High Value Manufacturing Catapult
Katherine is the CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, one of our key partners. She has had a long and illustrious career in aerospace and manufacturing and was awarded the Order of Commander of the British Empire for services to the aerospace and aviation sector in January 2019. She serves on the Investment Council of the Department for Business and Trade, on the Levelling Up Advisory Council and the Made Smarter Commission. In 2023, she was appointed as Chair of the Department for Business and Trade’s Industry Task and Finish Group on Critical Minerals. Katherine is ideally placed to share with the application which sustainable materials can play in today.
The expert panel comprises of:
- Professor Richard Jones, Professor of Materials Physics and Innovation Policy, University of Manchester
- Dr. Ania Jolly Head of Research and Business Development, Henry Royce Institute
- Sophie Walton, CPI, Director of Strategic Partnerships
- JT Janssen NPL – Chief Scientist
- John Davidson, Cygnet, Product Director, Oxidation, Carbonisation & Recycling Solutions
- Michelle McHugh Business Development Manager, Rochdale Development Manager
- Justin Kelly – Consultant, former Siemens board member and Greater Manchester Business Board (LEP) member
The Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS) is funded as part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s (DSIT) Innovation Accelerator programme. It will build on existing capability anchoring strategic businesses to the area.
This project is funded by the Greater Manchester Innovation Accelerator programme. Led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, the pilot Innovation Accelerator programme is investing £100m in 26 transformative R&D projects to accelerate the growth of three high-potential innovation clusters – Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester and West Midlands. Supporting the Government’s levelling-up agenda, this is a new model of R&D decision making that empowers local leaders to harness innovation in support of regional economic growth and help attract private R&D investment and develop future technologies.
