The Bridge at University of Lincoln, UK, and defence and security company, QinetiQ, have extended their ongoing partnership, after signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The new collaboration, in advanced materials and engineering, builds on an existing MOU signed in September 2023, which focused on artificial intelligence. This expanded agreement enhances knowledge sharing and innovation, creating new opportunities for research and development.
Combining business with innovation, the Bridge, hosted by the University of Lincoln, is a not-for-profit facility with specialist spaces hosting advanced instrumentation, purpose-built laboratories and training and innovation suites designed to ease access for businesses, to all aspects of materials innovation.
The new agreement paves the way for exciting opportunities for students from the university, including graduate or ‘year in industry‘ placements, PHD studentships and the sponsorship of Masters level projects. It also grants QinetiQ employees access to use the advanced technology and instrumentation based at the University of Lincoln, enabling the analysis and characterisation of advanced materials delivered by The Bridge.
Professor Charles Footer, QinetiQ Fellow, said: “We are excited to deepen our partnership with The Bridge. Their approach to innovating, collaborating and accelerating technology development is infectious, and the team are building an ecosystem that delivers. We look forward to increased opportunities for QinetiQ employees to grow their own skills-set and experience.”
Dr Matthew Thornton, Commercial Manager of The Bridge, said: “We are very pleased and excited to be strengthening our already flourishing partnership with QinetiQ, and we are greatly looking forward to working together to deliver incredible support for student projects at The Bridge.
“The use of advanced instrumentation and facilities at The Bridge will be open to the team at QinetiQ for collaboration on advanced materials, and we will seek to develop collaborations going forward that will be of great commercial benefit to the partnership.
“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding will be a key driver for innovation and research within the defence sector, and will enable the success of the next generation of defence industry professionals“
