University of Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre

Technology and Innovation Centre
General information
Status Under construction
Location Glasgow, Scotland
Construction started March 2012
Completed Estimated 2014
Technical details
Floor count 5
Floor area 25,000 m2 (270,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Main contractor Lend Lease Group

The Strathclyde Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) is a centre for technological research currently under construction in Glasgow, Scotland. It forms part of the University of Strathclyde campus in the heart of the city.

This project secured a £6.7 million funding from the European Regional Development Fund and another £26 million from the Scottish Government. The University itself is supplying the other £57 million needed to reach its £89 million budget needed to create the centre.[1]

The work started on the triangular, nine-storey, steel-framed building in March 2012 with a completion date set in 2014. The facility will be built to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ‘A’ rating standards – the industry’s highest energy-efficiency standard. This 25,000m2 space can accommodate around 1200 workers from numerous fields, including engineering, researching and project management from the university and outside industry. It will include open plan space for offices, three lecture theatres and areas for specialist laboratory equipment.

In addition to the Technology and Innovation Centre, a 5000m2 Industry Engagement Building, which will be located adjacent to the TIC building, will accommodate around and extra 500 occupants to the already huge work force at the TIC. This additional building has now secured planning permission.

The research that will be carried out in the Technology and Innovation Centre, by around 850 researchers from the University, is in the fields of: Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing, Advanced Science and Technology, Bioanotechnology, Business Engagement, Continuous Manufacturing and Crystallisation (CMAC), Energy, Health Technologies at Strathclyde, Human and Social Aspects of Technology, Photonics and Sensors, and Asset Management.[2]

Screenshot of plans

The company which is undertaking the construction of the Technology and Innovation Centre are the Lend Lease Group. They have been the major constructors at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino and the Museum for African Art.

Research

Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing

The Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing is engineering at both extremes of size; large and small. The department are looking at using nanotechnology to allow more fresh water to be decontaminated. Another field they are currently looking at is the development of technology used in space.

Advanced Science and Technology

The Advanced Science and Technology will aid in bringing together workers from different sectors including, academic, industrial and public to combine their skills and create advances in their fields. The fields the will be looking at include, using lasers and plasmas in medicine to destroy tumours.

Bionanotechnology

Bionanotechnology is the use of Nano scale materials to improve healthcare and biomaterials. In particular they will look at improving the methods of dispensing drugs and creating new materials including biomolecular gels.

Business Engagement

The Business Engagement research section will be focused on both innovation and basic research. They will look at predicting the market for products before they are released and will look at what they believe the population will need in the future so other sectors can begin the design and create the items they will need.

Continuous Manufacturing and Crystallisation

Continuous Manufacturing and Crystallisation will look at reducing the cost while improving the quality of expensive chemical products by adopting the Continuous Manufacturing and Crystallisation. They have already secured funding from a number of different sources to go towards their research.

Energy

Energy is expected to be one of the main research themes when the centre opens. Strathclyde already hosts the largest University electrical power engineering and energy research group in Europe, and the centre will allow it to expand its work in renewable energies and their integration with electricity networks through the use of smart grid technologies.

Health Technologies

Health Technologies will look at the use of technology in the discovery and detection of diseases and then the treatment of them. This research group can also diversify into one of research projects in any field that is needed at a particular time to respond to any business’s needs.

Human and Social Aspects of Technology

Human and Social Aspects of Technology will look at innovation and how this takes place along with the many aspects it is dependent on.

Photonics

The Photonics has been formed through a partnership between the University of Strathclyde, industry and the Government. The plan for this department is to bridge the gap between these sectors in the photonics field, from, biophotnonics to solid-state lasers.

Sensor and Asset Management

Sensor and Asset Management plans to make large scale developments in its field thus leading to vastly improved safety, and technology that will allow industry to monitor the status of reactions and other situations which a human could not work in. This sector has more than a hundred and fifty researchers available to it at any time.

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Where The money Is Coming From". "BBC".
  2. ↑ "Research Themes". "University of Strathclyde".