A Strategy Director has been appointed for the Materials Innovation Factory to further enhance its research, teaching and commercial outcomes.
Dr Matt Reed will be seconded to the role from Unilever from 1 June 2019 and will be based at the facility.
Funded via the UK Research Partnerships and Investment Fund, the Materials Innovation Factory is part of a £72M collaboration between the University and Unilever.
The facility has been open for nearly two years and is unique in Europe, accommodating 300 researchers from academic and industrial groups who work collaboratively to develop new science across a range of business sectors.
Housing £20M of the most advanced scientific equipment, the Materials Innovation Factory also offers a range of commercial services to academic and commercial customers.
Dr Reed will support the Materials Innovation Factory in delivering its vision and maximising its academic and commercial impact.
Professor Andy Cooper, Academic Director of the Materials Innovation Factory, said: “We’re creating a number of new roles that build on our success so far.
“Matt’s appointment presents some exciting opportunities, based on his extensive experience of creating, maintaining and exploiting innovation partnerships between academia and commercial innovators.”
Jon Hague, Unilever Vice-President for Science and Technology in Unilever’s Homecare Division, said: “We are delighted that Matt is now able to join the University of Liverpool in the capacity of Materials Innovation Factory Strategy Director. Matt was both visionary and instrumental in creating and building the Materials Innovation Factory in partnership with the University of Liverpool, so it is fitting that he joins the University to take the impact of the Materials Innovation Factory to new highs following its formal opening last year.
“As Unilever we look forward to collaborating with Matt and the University team to realise the MIF’s ambition to become the world leading centre for computer aided materials science.”
To complement Matt’s appointment, Kathryn Knuckey, Laboratory Operations Manager, and Jon Mercer, Programme Manager, will be taking on additional responsibilities to deliver the operational management requirements of the Materials Innovation Factory.
Find out more, please visit: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/materials-innovation-factory/.