Rolls-RoyceResearch Chairs and Senior Research Fellowships

“ We are looking to the Royal Academy of Engineering to help us to develop the research leaders of the future.”

Mark Jefferies, Head of University Research Liaison at Rolls-Royce

Over the last 15 years, Rolls-Royce has sponsored eight Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chairs and Senior Research Fellows, past and present, to collaborate with leading researchers in fields ranging from aerothermal technology to integrative mechanistic design.

RESEARCHRolls-Royce is a global engineering company committed to developing clean, safe and competitive solutions to the planet’s vital power needs. It is well-known for its aero-engines along with a diverse range of power engineering technologies. A key part of its research strategy is to build strong, long-term relationships with engineers and scientists in academia.

IMPACT A dynamic approach to academic collaboration brings benefits to research and innovation, by facilitating access to the best talent. Rolls-Royce’s partnership with the Academy helps to achieve this. Mark Jefferies, Head of University Research Liaison at Rolls-Royce, says: “the Academy is an important partner, and like us, has an impressive heritage in fostering excellence in research.”

Rolls-Royce’s research strategy includes sourcing fundamental research from the academic community, so it has different ways of evaluating success. Looking at conventional measures, around 400 research papers are published each year by researchers supported by Rolls-Royce. The company also encourages academic partners to consider patenting their ideas by including them in the company patent award scheme. Significantly, Rolls-Royce also places a high value on how academic collaboration improves its ability to recruit the strongest talent.

FUTURE PLANS There is a solid foundation for the partnership between Rolls-Royce and the Academy to continue. “We expect to work with our academics over a significant period of time,” Mark Jefferies explains. “We also think a lot about succession planning and that includes looking for future academic collaborations and ways of developing peoples’ careers.”

RESEARCH CHAIRS AND SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS SCHEMEThe Research Chairs and Senior Research Fellowships scheme aims to strengthen the links between industry and academia by supporting exceptional academics in UK universities to undertake user-inspired research that meets the needs of industrial partners. Awards are co-funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering and the industry partner and last for five years.

Royal Academy of Engineering Prince Philip House, 3 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5DG

@RAEngNews E research@raeng.org.uk W raeng.org.uk/researchchairs First printed 2018

Professor Jon Carrotte Rolls-Royce/Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair in Aerothermal Technology, Loughborough University

In 2012, Professor Carrotte was awarded a Research Chair to lead an ambitious research programme on aerothermal characteristics of gas-turbine combustion systems in aircraft engines. His role involves establishing a laboratory with state-of-the-art facilities for leading experts in industry and academia to develop low-emission combustion systems.

“The Research Chair has provided the time to plan and implement a UK research strategy to meet future technical challenges associated with developing future low-emission, gas-turbine combustion systems.”

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