The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has strengthened ties with India following a successful trade mission to the country with companies and organisations from across the Sheffield City Region (SCR).

The international trade mission visited Pune and Mumbai in India between November 25 - 30 with the ambition of opening up trading opportunities and job creation between Sheffield City Region and India.

Ten delegates from organisations including the University of Sheffield AMRC and Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) joined Sir Nigel Knowles, the Sheffield City Region Mayor’s advisor on International Trade and Investment on the five-day trade mission, which was organised by the SCR in association with the UK Indian Business Council (UKIBC) as part of strengthening relationships between the two trading regions.

The delegation visited a host of advanced manufacturing and academic organisations including the Automotive Research Authority of India, the Indian Institute of Technology (ITT-Bombay) and Pune College of Engineering, as well as meeting with the HM Trade Commissioner to India and representatives from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. They also visited Bharat Forge, which has more than 50 years of manufacturing excellence.

The visit highlighted the Sheffield City Region’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, lightweighting, and engineering, as well as it being a hub of world class research facilities and two leading universities. The delegation visited an area of India which boasts similar expertise in these sectors, particularly around composites, e-mobility and advanced technology.

Stuart Dawson, Chief Technology Officer at the University of Sheffield AMRC, said: “The AMRC has longstanding partnerships with Indian companies especially in the deployment of novel castings technologies. Our work in Lucknow and Kanpur, for instance, is central to the region’s ambition of creating an advanced manufacturing corridor, a very similar concept to that which is rapidly evolving in the Sheffield City Region in the world’s first Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District.

“This visit is an opportunity to strengthen our ties with India by developing R&D partnerships that benefit both the UK and India. It also puts the Sheffield City Region on the map as the come-to-place for high value manufacturing investors in search of world-leading R&D support to keep that crucial competitive edge."

Sir Nigel Knowles said: “The Indian economy is more influential, faster growing and offers more opportunities to exporters than ever before.  This trade mission allowed us to showcase the Sheffield City Region’s expertise in advanced manufacturing and has created an environment in which our region’s businesses can collaborate even more closely with Indian companies and academic institutions.”

Professor Mike Maddock, Managing Director of Performance Engineered Solutions (PES) Ltd, a world-leading engineering company working in areas such as aerospace, defence and energy, said: “India is an increasingly important trading partner for the UK, and especially for businesses in the Sheffield City Region. Our region and India are bound by our joint expertise in areas such as advanced manufacturing and engineering and the relationships forged on this trade mission will result in significant opportunities, collaborations, and investments across the region. The opportunities are mutual, and India deserves more of our collective time and resources as it becomes an important source of inward investment opportunities and a high potential export market.”

Sir Nigel added: “We see huge potential in working with India, as we share similar ambitions, which makes us ideal partners. We are looking to build long term partnerships with Indian businesses in specialist areas, including advanced manufacturing and engineering, material science, digital-led manufacturing and health and well-being.  Our vision is that digital technology and innovation will drive economic growth and prosperity.”

India will have the third biggest economy in the world by 2030 and is predicted to grow at an average rate of 5.9 per cent per annum until 2050, making it the most rapidly expanding of all G20 countries.

For more details visit the website www.scrinvest.com.