Smart Industrial Systems is one of our six Beacons of Excellence — transdisciplinary areas of world-leading research excellence that address global challenges.

Following introductions to Propulsion Futures, the Rights Lab, Precision Imaging, Future Food and Green Chemicals, the spotlight now falls on Smart Industrial Systems.

The industrial economy was about manufacturing physical products while the digital economy is about delivering online services. These will collide in the future economy in the form of personalised experiences.

In our new industrial age, smart factories will deliver highly personalised goods and services.

Research at Nottingham is redefining our relationships with technologies and each other.

We will establish a programme of fundamental and powerful discovery to respond with speed and agility to the unprecedented pace of change in our world.

Professor Steve Benford, Director of Smart Industrial Systems, said: “The University of Nottingham is in a unique position to unlock the opportunity and address the challenge.

“We are currently constructing a £100m centre for advanced manufacturing to tackle the challenges of industry 4.0 — from digital design to robotic manufacturing to capturing data from thru-life service.

“We also host the Horizon national hub for Digital Economy Research that is pioneering online services for mobility, healthcare and creativity, including collaborating with ethicists and lawyers to ensure the fair and transparent use of personal data.

“Our beacon will bring these together to establish a unique cross-disciplinary environment in which engineers, computer scientists and social scientists will collaborate to envisage future experiences and establish their enabling technologies.”

Read more about this revolution in Professor Benford’s Introducing Smart Industrial Systems blog

Beacons of Excellence

The beacons were unveiled at the Royal Society in London at the launch of the University of Nottingham’s Research Vision, a landmark investment of  more than £200m in our people and our research.

Our ambition is for the University of Nottingham to be recognised as among the very best in the world. Our Beacons of Excellence are at the core of this global vision.

The beacons will drive significant inward investment in to our internationally renowned research areas, and support our ambitious vision by increasing collaboration, strengthening networks and partnerships, attracting diverse funding, and raising the reputation of our world-changing research.

Each beacon addresses a key global challenge and collectively they address all 17 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

What our Research Vision means for you

We cannot achieve the ambitious goals of our Research Vision without the support of researchers and all colleagues working across the University.

Research colleagues should have received a guide entitled ‘What our Research Vision means for you’. This guide outlines the opportunities available, and where to go for help and support. You can also access the guide on the dedicated Research Vision Workspace.

A guide to the opportunities our research investment offers to Professional Services and support staff is also now available on the Research Vision Workspace.

Our beacons are just part of a significant investment in the resources, people, infrastructure and environment essential to delivering our world-leading discoveries and your input, support and engagement is invaluable.

We will be holding further research roadshows to hear Professor Dame Jessica Corner outline what the Research Vision means for you, and how you can get involved — to support and shape the future of research at our University.

Look out for more roadshow dates in the coming weeks.