Centre for Process Innovation

The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) was established in 2004 and manages the Printable Electronics Technology Centre (PETEC) at NETPark. It works closely with industry, from multinationals to high-tech start-ups, investors, government agencies and leading researchers to stimulate and manage market-led innovation.

Through CPI the UK has established two national technology centres (Printable Electronics and Sustainable Processing), equipped with development laboratories, prototyping facilities and pilot plants that enable clients to prove and scale up processes from the laboratory stage through to commercial reality.

Like County Durham Development Company and Durham University, CPI, as owner of PETEC, is a signatory to the 2009 NETPark Memorandum of Understanding.

The involvement of CPI exploits its expertise in taking technologies from innovation to commercialisation in the fields of advanced processes, functional materials, low carbon energy and printable electronics.

CPI is now a partner in the first Technology Innovation Centre or TIC.  TICs form a network of elite technology and innovation centres for the UK and £200M is being invested by BIS via the Technology Strategy Board over 4 years. A TIC will:

• provide businesses with access to world-leading technology and expertise
• reach into the knowledge base for world-leading science and engineering
• be able to undertake collaborative applied research projects with business
• be able to undertake contract research for business
• be strongly business-focused with a highly professional delivery ethos
• create a critical mass of activity between business and the knowledge base
• provide skills development at all levels.

The partners in the High Value Manufacturing Technology Innovation Centre are the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Rotherham), Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Rotherham), Manufacturing Technology Centre (Coventry), Advanced Forming Research Centre (University of Strathclyde), National Composite Centre (University of Bristol), Centre for Process Innovation (Wilton & NETPark) and the WMG (University of Warwick).

Your can learn more about CPI and its achievements at http://www.uk-cpi.com