Siemens hails UK as a "˜world-class innovation hub'

Siemens has in excess 450 employees dedicated to researching and developing technologies of the future specifically based in the UK, with a focus on sectors including advanced manufacturing and renewable energy.

Juergen Maier, Managing Director of Siemens Industry says: "We are clearly world class when it comes to R&D in the UK, but global competition is very high, so we must focus hard on the areas we can be truly world beating at - and that can't be in everything - so as a country we need to marshal our resources at what we do best to get the attention from global companies like ours.

"What is fantastic about doing business in Britain is that we also have world-class universities, such as Manchester and Cambridge, that act as vehicles for innovation. Continued investment in this area will be the engine that powers the UK economic recovery, generating long lasting wealth and creating jobs.

"British Universities lead in a number of key technology fields like Graphene and Smart Grids, both of which we have agreed to work more closely on with the University of Manchester. We have over 50 research and development partnerships with 26 Universities."

Siemens further reaffirmed its commitment to R&D in the UK with its recent acquisition of Preactor. The Preactor Group is based in Chippenham with subsidiaries in North America, India, France, Spain and China. Preactor's breakthrough advanced production planning software has been installed by more than 4500 companies in 75 countries, and is used to optimise production costs, boost productivity and improve on-time delivery.

Nearly half its employees are involved in R&D, out of a total workforce of 70 - adding to the growing bank of Siemens UK R&D specialists in this growing technology area of Industrial Software.

In Cambridge, Siemens PLM Software already specialises in product lifecycle management systems including digital product development, manufacturing and product data. It has over 190 highly qualified R&D staff and is world leading in the pioneering of 3D modelling technology.

Software innovations

The business unit, which originally spun out of Cambridge University in 1974, now sees its technology used globally in more than 350 commercial software applications for the design, simulation and manufacture of products across the globe. Worldwide, over 6 million designers and engineers have benefited from its software innovations, selling to over 200 software companies in 28 countries.

Siemens Energy R&D is also helping the UK to meet its low carbon ambition and protect British resources and energy security. In Lincoln, Siemens' collaboration with the University is helping to develop industry-relevant research to achieve ever higher efficiency in gas turbines for oil and gas and industrial power plants. Keele and Sheffield are pioneering converter technology for next-generation wind turbines that will be more efficient, generate more power and require less maintenance.

Universities and Science Minister, David Willetts, adds: "The UK has some of the most innovative business in the world, helping to cement our place as the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe. Innovation gives us a competitive advantage, drives growth, creates jobs and can help us to succeed in the global race."

Earlier this year Siemens announced that the Universities of Manchester and Cambridge would be its new ambassador Universities, dedicated to commercialising cutting-edge research - seen as critical if the UK is to beat global economic competition.

The commitment to develop R&D capacity in the UK comes on the back of an announcement from the Government to commit over 290 million of public and private investment to drive innovation and growth in a number of new university and business partnerships.

Projects will focus on physical sciences, medical research, advanced materials, pharmaceutical manufacturing and advanced manufacturing. They will tackle global challenges like developing new treatments for cancer and ensuring advanced materials can cope under harsh conditions, including difficult to access oil and gas reservoirs.

For further information about research at Siemens, please visit www.siemens.co.uk.