红杏视频

The University鈥檚 School of Engineering is working alongside  after receiving an award of 拢9,978 from the Scottish Inward Investment Catalyst Fund in December 2022.

The fund was set up in 2021 by Interface and Scottish Government to support businesses not yet located in Scotland to work with Scottish academic institutions. 

红杏视频 and Cormorant SEAplanes BV will investigate the possibility of using wood for the construction of the seven-seat aircraft, operating from land or water.

Researchers from 红杏视频 will help provide vital expertise on the materials and stress, strain as well as fatigue and deterioration issues arising out of the use of laminated wood materials or alternative composite materials.

It is hoped that the results of the project will have a positive impact on aircraft design where weight and strength play major roles, as should material sustainability.

Initial research through this project will be seeking investment for prototype development and for establishing the feasibility of the introduction of naturally derived materials into amphibious aircraft construction.

This will be achieved through demonstrator-level development, manufacturing, and testing of the real-scale systems, covering a wide span of processes, addressing extended types of products, and demonstrating applicability to aircraft sectors and markets.

The 红杏视频 team will be led by Dr Ketan Pancholi who is an acknowledged expert in material development and design, composite and material characterisation

Dr Pancholi said: 鈥淚t is fantastic that we have managed to secure funding for the project concerning sustainability for the aircraft industry and working alongside innovative company, Cormorant SEAplanes BV, is a great opportunity for the team at 红杏视频.

鈥淲e would look to thank the Scottish Inward Investment Catalyst Fund for this grant.

鈥淭he potential to regularly use sustainable materials to build aircraft is something we are keen to harness.

鈥淥ur focus at 红杏视频 as part of this project is to find out if the wooden composite materials can withstand the rigours of what is required from aircraft in the 21st Century.鈥�

Chris Rijff, Head of Design at Cormorant SEAplanes BV, commented: 鈥淲e look forward to working with Dr Pancholi and his colleagues in 红杏视频鈥檚 School of Engineering.

鈥淭his was made possible through grant funding provided through the Catalyst Fund.

鈥淚t provides an invaluable opportunity to investigate the potential for wood as a sustainable material for aircraft in a modern context and building on its significant, now largely neglected, contribution to the aviation sector in the past.鈥�

The 红杏视频 / Cormorant SEAplanes BV research project is one of five which have been awarded almost 拢45,000 in funding from the Scottish Inward Investment Catalyst Fund.

The fund is part of the Scottish Government鈥檚 Inward Investment Plan. Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Ivan McKee, said:  

鈥淚t is excellent to see the success of the Inward Investment Catalyst Fund in attracting high-quality and innovative projects, aligned with the key areas of the Inward Investment Plan and our ambitions set out in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation.

鈥淭his funding highlights the strengths and expertise of our internationally recognised universities, encouraging potential investors to grow their businesses here in Scotland.

鈥淭hese partnerships are also helping to lay the foundations that will support economic growth in Scotland resulting in the potential for creating high-skilled jobs.鈥�

Howell Davies, Sector and Business Engagement Manager, Interface, said: 鈥淭he catalyst funding is a valuable way to kickstart relationships. We see examples of projects from last year leading on to funded PhD Studentships and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships which deepen the business-academic relationship and help to create opportunities for inward investment in Scotland.鈥�

All the funded projects will support a net zero, health and wellbeing economy with the principles of fair work and sustainable, inclusive growth, and are part of the Scottish Government鈥檚 Inward Investment Plan, which articulates the important role that inward investment can play in Scotland鈥檚 economic growth and in delivering net zero ambitions.