Chief Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen MP, and Metro Mayor Dan Norris officially launched the centre, which develops clean transportation technology for tomorrow.
IAAPS, the University of Bath’s new state-of-the-art facility which develops clean, sustainable and affordable technologies to support the transport industry in the transition to net zero, was officially launched on Thursday, 28th September.
The event was attended by prominent guests from industry, academia and trade bodies as well as representatives from regional and national government, including Chris Skidmore, MP for Kingswood, and Chair of the Net Zero Review.
The exclusive event was held at the new 11,300 sqm IAAPS facility at the Bristol & Bath Science Park and brought together around 250 supporters, partners and collaborators of this pioneering centre of excellence for research, innovation, enterprise and education which leads the development of future generations of ultra-low emission vehicles.
The facility has been funded by the University of Bath, the UK Government’s Research England and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
IAAPS was officially declared operational during a formal launch ceremony, with dignitaries including Dan Norris, Metro Mayor of the Mayoral Combined Authority, John Glen MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Chris Skidmore MP, Chair of the Net Zero Review as well as MP for Kingswood, joining Professor Ian White, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bath and Professor Chris Brace, Executive Director of IAAPS, in cutting a symbolic ribbon to mark this major milestone.
IAAPS builds on over four decades of advanced propulsion system expertise at the University of Bath, working in collaboration with industry and academia to deliver transformational research into cleaner, smarter engines, powertrains and driver technologies. The centre has recently seen further multi-million-pound investment in pioneering hydrogen research and testing capabilities, including the installation of a green hydrogen manufacturing plant – the first of its kind in the South West of England – as well as a closed loop cryogenic helium system.
The expanding scope and wealth of expertise at IAAPS is set to facilitate a number of trailblazing initiatives, including a regional Hydrogen Sustainable Transport Economy Acceleration Hub, working with over 30 cross-sector partners to facilitate green growth in the region and to provide an important link in the national H2 research infrastructure.
Once fully scaled, it is projected that IAAPS will stimulate £67m in additional R&D investment within five years of opening and drive an additional turnover of £800m within the UK automotive sector alone, as well as contribute £221m in additional Gross Value Added for the UK economy. Furthermore, IAAPS will support around 1,900 new jobs across the supply chain within the UK, and directly employ approx. 190 people.