The operator of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, the University of Strathclyde, has won a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in the field of Advanced Manufacturing. Recognised for driving one of the broadest and most distinctive programmes in the UK, Strathclyde has been honoured for enhancing manufacturing productivity while also producing a new generation of manufacturing talent.

The award was also made in recognition of the role the University has played in transforming international competitiveness and for its contribution to communities through the establishment of two Innovation Districts.

Strathclyde contributes across a wide range of manufacturing sectors including aerospace, automotive, maritime, energy and pharmaceuticals - work which is delivering long-term benefits in transport, the environment and healthcare.

Highest honour

Part of the UK Honours system, the Queen’s Anniversary Prize is the highest national honour conferred on the sector and is given in recognition of world-class excellence and achievement at academic institutions. It is presented to a small selection of UK institutions every two years.

It is the second Queen’s Anniversary Prize awarded to the University in the most recent rounds, following its 2019 recognition for research excellence in energy. The news was announced at a reception for prize winners at St James’ Palace, London, on Thursday 25 November.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Strathclyde, said:

We are both delighted and extremely proud to be awarded this Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education.

“As the first technological university established in the UK, Strathclyde is renowned for working with business, industry and government to deliver economic and societal benefits for the local and global communities we serve.

“This award is very much a reflection of the positive impact of our inspiring and entrepreneurial people, and those of our forward-thinking partner organisations.

"Together, we are enhancing productivity, improving sustainability, transforming international competitiveness, and producing a new generation of manufacturing talent. I look forward to the next chapter of advanced manufacturing collaboration as we continue to drive world-class innovation and inclusive economic growth.

Manufacturing innovation

Over the last 15 years, the University has accelerated its work in manufacturing innovation, notably through the creation of two vibrant Innovation Districts with advanced manufacturing at their core.

Strathclyde’s advanced manufacturing capability was the driver in establishing Scotland’s first Innovation District – Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID) – as well as the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) where the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) is based.  Both Districts are attracting significant numbers of companies and organisations looking to nurture and accelerate growth, improve productivity, and access world-class research, technology, graduates and postgraduates from the University.

Recent developments have included the operation of the world-class NMIS, developed in partnership with the Scottish Government, and now part of the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult as well as the rapid growth of the University’s Advanced Forming Research Centre, the foundation centre for the development of NMIS.

Shared vision

In GCID, the University also established the Centre for Continuous Manufacturing and Advanced Crystallisation (CMAC), which has attracted eight of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies to deliver a shared vision for research, translation to industry and skills development; and is home to the Cancer Research UK Formulation Unit, which develops anti-cancer drugs to a level suitable for Phase I and II clinical trials.

Strathclyde is also a founding partner in the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, which is being built within AMIDS to allow rapid adoption of research from CMAC and to scale up and deploy technologies for advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.