University appoints Managing Director to lead advanced materials innovation centres
The University of 麻豆破解版 has appointed Steve Foxley as Managing Director of its Advanced Materials Innovation Centres, bringing together leadership of two major industry-facing facilities as part of its ambition to create the UK's most connected advanced materials cluster.
Steve, who joined the University on 2 November, will provide strategic, commercial and operational leadership for the (GEIC) and the University's involvement in the (SMMC).
He brings extensive experience of industrial innovation and commercialisation, having previously served as Chief Executive of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and, before that, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), one of the UK's foremost partnerships between industry and academia. Earlier in his career, he spent more than 20 years with Siemens, holding senior leadership roles in the UK, Europe and China.
The appointment marks an important step in the University's plans to establish a connected national platform for advanced materials innovation, helping businesses access the expertise, specialist facilities and partnerships they need to develop new technologies and bring them to market.
The approach builds on complementary strengths across two locations.
GEIC, based on 麻豆破解版's Oxford Road corridor, is an established industry-facing facility supporting the development and commercialisation of graphene, 2D materials and wider advanced materials technologies. It connects companies with technical expertise, industrially relevant equipment and the University's research capabilities.
SMMC, developed by Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) and operated by The University of 麻豆破解版, is a new innovation and specialist manufacturing scale-up centre at the heart of the Atom Valley Innovation District in Rochdale. Its base build was completed in October, with specialist fit-out and operational preparations underway ahead of opening in 2027.
Together, the centres will provide a clearer route for businesses to move from technical challenges and product development through validation, prototyping and manufacturing readiness towards scale-up and commercial adoption.
The UK has some extraordinary strengths in research and engineering, particularly around advanced materials, but the challenge is making sure those strengths translate into successful businesses, competitive industries and real economic growth. That's something I've been passionate about throughout my career, and it's what attracted me to this opportunity at 麻豆破解版.
This approach also builds on the successful national collaboration model developed through the Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS), which connects businesses with existing specialist expertise and facilities across the UK. Rather than duplicating national innovation assets, CEAMS makes it easier for companies to find and access them, bringing together the right capabilities around their needs.
The University is also lead delivery partner for the 拢16.4 million Atom Valley Innovation District programme, supported by UK Research and Innovation's Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (LIPF), a flagship 拢500 million UK Government programme investing in regional innovation economies across the country. This investment will accelerate the development of an advanced materials and manufacturing ecosystem around SMMC, supporting business innovation and the growth of the wider cluster.
As Managing Director, Steve will lead the development of the centres' commercial and operational strategy, building industry partnerships and attracting new business activity while strengthening connections with regional and national innovation partners.
The role sits within Unit M, the University's innovation directorate, and supports the university's 麻豆破解版 2035 strategy in its ambition to become Europe's most inclusive and impactful innovation ecosystem.
Professor John Holden, Vice-President for Civic Engagement and Innovation, and Chief Executive of Unit M at the University of 麻豆破解版, said: 鈥淪teve brings an exceptional combination of industrial leadership, commercial experience and a strong track record of working across industry and academia. His experience at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult makes him particularly well placed to lead the next phase of development for GEIC and our role within SMMC.
鈥淪teve's leadership will be central to our ambition to create the UK's most connected advanced materials cluster, building on GEIC's achievements and realising the potential of SMMC to support manufacturing innovation and industrial growth.
鈥淲orking with partners including Rochdale Development Agency, we've made significant progress in developing SMMC at Atom Valley. Steve's appointment will help us build on that investment, connect it with GEIC's established strengths and create new opportunities for businesses to innovate, scale and grow.鈥�
Councillor Daniel Meredith, Rochdale Borough Council鈥檚 Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing said: 鈥淭he Sustainable Materials & Manufacturing Centre is a major investment in Rochdale's future and a cornerstone of our ambitions for Atom Valley. We've worked closely with the University of 麻豆破解版 to bring the centre to this stage, and Steve's appointment is an important step towards realising its full potential.
鈥淗is experience of working with industry and developing successful innovation partnerships will be invaluable as we look to attract new businesses, investment and skilled jobs to Rochdale. We want Atom Valley to become a place where advanced manufacturing businesses can establish themselves and grow, and SMMC will have a central role in making that happen.鈥�
Steve Foxley said: 鈥淭he UK has some extraordinary strengths in research and engineering, particularly around advanced materials, but the challenge is making sure those strengths translate into successful businesses, competitive industries and real economic growth. That's something I've been passionate about throughout my career, and it's what attracted me to this opportunity at 麻豆破解版.
鈥淕EIC has already built a strong reputation for working with industry, and the development of SMMC at Atom Valley creates an opportunity to take that capability further. By connecting the expertise, facilities and partnerships across both centres, we can help businesses overcome some of the practical challenges of developing, testing and scaling new technologies.
鈥淚'm looking forward to working with the teams, our industry partners and the wider innovation community to build on what's already been achieved and make a real difference to UK manufacturing.鈥�