MarRI-UK, a collaborative innovation vehicle for the UK maritime sector, is pleased to announce that it has secured a £224,000 grant from the National Shipbuilding Office (NSbS) to undertake a comprehensive study of the UK’s shipbuilding research capabilities. The study aims to gain a better understanding of the existing expertise in the field and to identify opportunities to enhance the UK’s productivity and competitiveness in shipbuilding, in line with NSbS’s vision of being a globally successful, innovative, and sustainable UK shipbuilding enterprise.

The project’s primary objective is to produce a detailed report addressing key questions about the UK’s current capabilities. This report will be based on the outputs of a study conducted at leading marine academic institutions across the UK and in competitor nations. Additionally, the project will create a network map of UK academic research expertise, classified by topic areas related to NSbS’s pillars.

MarRI-UK will lead the project, which will be carried out by seven maritime-leading UK universities, including the University of Newcastle, the University of Plymouth, the University of Southampton, the University of Strathclyde, the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moore’s University, and University College London.

The study will draw on the collective expertise of these universities to gain a comprehensive understanding of the UK’s research capabilities in shipbuilding. The resulting report will identify gaps in research and highlight areas where investment could help to enhance the UK’s competitiveness in the field.

Commenting on the grant, MarRI-UK’s CEO, said: “We are thrilled to receive this grant from the NSbS, which will allow us to embark on this important study. The UK has a long and proud history in shipbuilding, and we believe that this project will help to ensure that we remain at the forefront of innovation in the field.”

The study’s findings will be of interest to a broad range of stakeholders, including shipbuilders, government agencies, and research institutions. MarRI-UK welcomes any parties interested in following the project’s outputs to contact them via email at info@marri-uk.org.

The grant from the NSbS will enable MarRI-UK and its partner universities to undertake a comprehensive study of the UK’s shipbuilding research capabilities, with the aim of enhancing the UK’s productivity and competitiveness in the field. The project’s findings will be of significant interest to a broad range of stakeholders, and MarRI-UK looks forward to sharing them in due course.