The Bridge Advanced Engineering R&D Centre is a collaborative scheme funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Greater Lincolnshire LEP and University of Lincoln.
Building the Bridge network
When the world works together, everyone benefits. We are building a consortium of advanced engineering professionals to enable us to work collaboratively on the cutting edge problems that society faces.
Join us today to start benefiting from shared knowledge
The Bridge project involves several interlinked strands, each designed to increase competitiveness of the region’s SME cohort. We invite both Greater Lincolnshire-based and national businesses to join us to benefit from a smoother path to working with academia, access to cutting edge engineering and materials science technologies and specialist training.
Bridging the gap between SMEs and academic expertise
Accessing appropriate scientific and engineering expertise can be difficult. We are here specifically to enable collaborations between Lincolnshire’s valuable business community and local academics.
By providing a central innovation hub, shared access laboratory facilities and dedicated scientific business liaison staff, we are the one-stop-shop for academic-industry relations in materials science.
Bridging the knowledge gap to the development of new materials for key applications
The Bridge is first and foremost about excellent scientific research in the field of advanced materials. Through the combination of experts from schools across the University of Lincoln, we can innovate to develop new materials for applications spanning sectors from manufacturing, energy production & storage or semi-conductor technology.
Get in touch with us today to see how we could bridge the gap to your new technological solutions.
Bridging the skills gap by providing training and CPD to your workforce
We have academics and experts in a huge range of subjects, from materials characterisation to organic chemistry, from mechanical testing to analytical scientists. We run regular specialist courses and can create bespoke content to upskill your staff.
Our training facilities include both classroom and laboratory settings, making it easy to tailor courses to your businesses CPD needs. Get in touch to find out about our latest courses.
Bridging the technology gap to provide sub-nanometer definition of new materials
The Bridge augments the existing capability in Lincoln to provide significant analysis of surface chemistry and physical properties of new materials. Through transmission / scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, we can image your samples in unprecedented detail.
Coupled with existing skills in elemental & molecular analysis and bulk properties of materials, our skills complete the scientific package. Find out more about our technological expertise here
Bridging the ‘valley of death’ to help bring new products to market
The Bridge enables laboratory-scale process validations and scale-up R&D projects at the interface of academia and industry to help bring new products to market.
Universities traditionally undertake blue skies research taking basic ideas to proof of concept stages. Industry take concepts that are validated at process scales and generates products. Between these two areas exists the ‘valley of death’ where many products fail. We can work with businesses both to obtain funding and to deliver research to bridge that gap and turn proof of concept into design & initial production.
Our story so far
2010
- The University of Lincoln opens its school of engineering, which combines state of the art R&D labs with industry-led teaching. It is the first new school of engineering in the UK for 20 years.
2014
- University of Lincoln founds the School of Chemistry with a £6.8m grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) Catalyst Fund, in close collaboration with industrial partners.
2017
The Bridge concept established
- Industry workshops held across the advanced engineering sector helped to develop plans for The Bridge. A position paper laid out the outline for the new venture.
2018
- A proposition paper developed requirements of the bridge and culminated in a funding proposal containing proposed outputs and building designs.
2020
£6.5M funding secured
- Grants from the European Regional Development Fund and Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership are leveraged by a substantial University contribution.
2022
- The purpose-built laboratory and training accommodation is due to be completed and equipped with a range of cutting edge instrumentation.
Find out about the new home for The Bridge
Our purpose-built laboratory and training facility is under construction. Due for completion in 2021, we are exceptionally excited to welcome the region’s materials scientists and engineers to tour labs, or see how they could use the innovation suite. But for now, why don’t you read a little more about it:
Let's Start Something new
Say Hello!
Send us a message. Tell us about your business, your engineering problems and your scientific research needs. Let’s start a conversation and develop new innovative science together. Fill in the form below and we’ll get back to you.