Southampton marine institute opened

The Institute will eventually be located on premises alongside LR in Southampton on the redeveloped Boldrewood Campus of the University, due for completion in 2014.


This development has resulted in an investment of around £116 mill in the new campus, the largest such business-focused endeavour in any UK university.


LR’s marine director, Tom Boardley said: "Collaborative initiatives such as the SMMI and our Group Technology Centre are clearly the way forward for British industry. When you combine the strengths of business and academia for research purposes, you stimulate the kind of practical innovation that supports sustainable industry.


"It is strategic technical alliances like these that will ensure our shipping and energy sectors have the solutions they need to remain safe, environmentally responsible and globally competitive," he said.


With approximately 300 academics working together with society, industry and government, the SMMI will be the largest single entity of its kind in the world, which integrates all marine and maritime disciplines across the University.


Specialists in ship design and naval architecture, fluid dynamics and acoustics, oceanography through to arts, humanities and social sciences will work together to better understand current and future maritime challenges.


The co-location of LR with the University and its collaboration with the SMMI will help to ensure research support for these sectors, which will influence and catalyse future maritime developments at regional, national and international level enabling wealth creation, strategy and policy formulations, new research and enterprise initiatives, and graduate employment opportunities for the region’s highly skilled and desirable work force, LR said.


Close links with LR will be supplemented by collaborative frameworks with other UK industrial and societal organisations and government establishments. These close links will be vital to the long term success of the SMMI.