The funding, part of a wider £3.6 million International Investment Initiative to scale up international research collaborations, will support research over the next five years into bio-printing technology that could reduce the cost of personalised medicine and drive innovation in tissue regeneration.
The partnership will deliver industrial applications that align with industrial policy priorities in both the UK and Canada and build on the expertise of world-leading research centres and internationally recognised expertise in the knowledge exchange process at both universities.
Welcoming the grant award, the University of Brighton’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor Tara Dean said: “We welcome this funding award which recognises the huge potential of a well-established strategic collaboration between the University of Brighton and York University, Canada. The five-year funding will allow the project to capitalise on the synergy between programmes of excellent research in engineering and biomedicine in both universities to develop industrial applications and novel research skills in 3D bio-printing and additive biomedical manufacturing technologies.”
Rui Wang, Interim Vice-President Research and Innovation at York University, Canada said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with the University of Brighton, the first international partner institution of Research Impact Canada (RIC). As RIC members both institutions are committed to maximising the impact of academic research for social, economic, environmental and health benefits. We believe that new knowledge, often developed through collaboration, makes a real difference in society and leads to more informed decision making for public policy, professional practice and social programmes.”
The funding has been awarded by Research England, part of UK Research and Innovation, which worked with Universities UK International to develop the International Investment Initiative.