(L-R) Sir Robin Nicholson (Lay member of Council), David Willetts MP (Minister of State for Universities and Science), Dr Sara Flint (Commercial Director, CALM), Professor Ken Evans (Dean of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences). Photo: James Bradbury.
Minister of State for Universities and Science visits Exeter
Minister of State for Universities and Science David Willetts MP visited the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus on Monday 26 September.
He was briefed on the University’s £275 million campus developments and visited the new Centre for Additive Layer Manufacturing.
During his visit, the Minister was shown how the University is investing in state-of-the-art new facilities. He was given an overview of the University’s world-class research and innovative collaborations with business and industry.
University Council members and senior management gave David Willetts a glimpse of the Forum project, a new £50 million development for the heart of Streatham Campus. The Forum will feature an inspirational mix of outside and inside space that will deliver a new Student Services Centre, retail and catering outlets, a refurbished library, new technology-rich learning spaces, a 400-seat lecture theatre and a new University reception.
The Minister then took a tour of the new Centre for Additive Layer Manufacturing (CALM). CALM enables businesses, entrepreneurs and researchers to harness the potential of ‘3D printing’. This is a new production technique that can create complex or bespoke parts and complete products by building them up one layer at a time in specialist machines. This groundbreaking technique can significantly reduce the time it takes to get a product from the design stage into market. CALM brings a unique set of facilities to the South West, opening up a wealth of opportunities for businesses in the region and across the UK.
Date: 27 September 2011
