A strategic initiative has been launched to enhance collaboration between academia and the automotive industry.
- The Academic Advisory Group (AAG) is formed to tackle industry challenges and foresee future technological disruptions.
- This partnership was initiated by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) to connect academic research with industry needs.
- Philippa Oldham emphasised the necessity of collaboration for achieving a net zero automotive supply chain.
- The UK aims to leverage innovation through this alliance, addressing research and development gaps.
In a forward-thinking move, a new group has been established to fortify the connection between academic institutions and the automotive industry. This initiative, known as the Academic Advisory Group (AAG), is set to address existing challenges within the automotive sector while providing insights into upcoming technological advancements that could influence the industry.
Philippa Oldham, the stakeholder engagement director at the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), articulated the creation of this group as a means to sustain and develop academic engagement that the APC has fostered over the years. She highlighted the unique position of this group in delivering an approach that effectively links academic circles with industry participants.
Recognising the densely populated UK research and development landscape, the group aims to fill existing gaps by identifying essential research areas. The purpose is to address automotive industry challenges comprehensively while offering foresight on potentially disruptive innovations.
Oldham further noted the urgency of transitioning towards a net zero automotive supply chain within the UK, underscoring the critical role that collaboration plays in this transformation. She stated that solving contemporary challenges necessitates harnessing tomorrow’s innovations and insights, with the collaboration between industry and academia poised to provide invaluable access to talent, research support, knowledge exchange, and innovative ideas.
The establishment of the Academic Advisory Group marks a significant stride towards synchronising academic efforts with industry demands in the automotive sector.
