Seven new Imperial centres to train postgraduate engineers and scientists

Imperial will be home to seven new centres training the engineers and scientists of tomorrow and is partner in a further five, it is announced today.

Over the next five years, over 400 postgraduates will join the Imperial centres to carry out research and develop skills in a range of areas, from chemical biology to neurotechnology to fluid dynamics (see the full list of centres, right). The College’s partner centres will train around 250 further postgraduates.

In total, there will be over 70 Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) across 24 UK universities, training over 3,500 postgraduates in areas of research that are considered vital to future economic growth. They represent the UK’s largest ever investment in postgraduate training in engineering and physical sciences. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is providing £350 million for the CDTs, with partners from industry and elsewhere contributing a further £250 million.

Imperial is one of only three institutions to be awarded seven CDTs.

Announcing the new centres, the Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said: “Scientists and engineers are vital to our economy and society. It is their talent and imagination, as well as their knowledge and skills, that inspire innovation and drive growth across a range of sectors, from manufacturing to financial services.

“I am particularly pleased to see strong partnerships between universities, industry and business among the new centres announced today. This type of collaboration is a key element of our industrial strategy and will continue to keep us at the forefront of the global science race.”

Professor James Stirling CBE FRS, Provost of Imperial College London, said: “These awards underline Imperial’s status as a powerhouse for postgraduate education and research.

“Imperial will use its highest ever number of CDTs to train the next generation of leaders in science and engineering while undertaking research that makes a real, long-lasting contribution. This will strengthen higher education, industry and society alike.

“In recent years, Imperial’s CDTs have pioneered a series of innovations in doctoral training, including the development of bespoke professional skills training, public engagement, entrepreneurship and cohort-building. This approach has cultivated the right environment for students to combine world-class training in research with the acquisition of a broad range of work-ready skills. Our new CDTs will enable us to take this successful approach to the next level.”

The first Imperial CDT - the Institute of Chemical Biology Centre for Doctoral Training - was set up in 2003. Hundreds of postgraduates have since been trained in CDTs across Imperial and three of the College’s existing CDTs have had their funding renewed today.

Paul Golby, Chair of the EPSRC, said: “Centres for Doctoral Training have already proved to be a great success and the model is popular with students, business and industry. These new centres will give the country the highly trained scientists and engineers it needs and they will be equipped with skills to move on in their careers.”