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Plymouth Science Park secures £500k for state-of-the-art DREAM project

Cutting-edge additive manufacturing facility backed by Heart of the South West LEP

Plymouth Science Park has been awarded £507,000 for a new digital engineering test facility, to complement their Advanced Digital Manufacturing Innovation Centre. The funding has been allocated by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), from the £8m Digital Investment Programme.

The DREAM (Digital Reverse Engineering And Metallurgy) project will offer businesses a digital engineering test facility for reverse engineering, design, manufacturing and validation of additive manufactured prototypes and products. 

Ian McFadzen, CEO at Plymouth Science Park, said: “We are thrilled to have secured this substantial funding, a testament to the Park’s commitment to innovation. DREAM will support modern production methods and pioneering technologies, helping to expand our offer to additive manufacturing and engineering companies in the South West and beyond.”

The project is being developed in response to companies outlining their need for local digital engineering test beds, to underpin new production methods empowered by digital technologies. Having access to state-of-the-art reverse engineering, design, inspection and validation technologies will support the creation of regional jobs, develop skill sets, and improve productivity and throughput of the manufacturing base, whilst strengthening supply chain resilience. 

Karl Tucker, Chair of the Heart of the South West LEP, said: “We are proud to support Plymouth Science Park’s visionary DREAM project. The test facility aligns with our mission to drive regional innovation, and is a testament to our region’s potential in shaping the future of engineering.”

Procurement of the equipment is underway and should be installed in spring 2024.

To find out more about Plymouth Science Park, visit www,plymouthsciencepark.comTo find out more about the Heart of the South West LEP, visit www.heartofswlep.co.uk

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.