Engineering Design Centre

The Engineering Design Centre (EDC) is a research centre for collaborative research between industry, local authorities and the academic sector.

Associated with the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials (CEAM), we specialise in:

  • the design, development and performance of systems for the production and operation of complex products, which are made on an engineer-to-order basis with high levels of customisation
  • the investigation and analysis of more sustainable uses of energy in both the commercial and public sector

The work at the EDC has broadly divided into four research streams. These are:

  • Complex process integration and coordination
  • Design for lifecycle and sustainability
  • Decision support and optimisation
  • Dependability and resilience in complex software

Services Offered

The EDC research programs consist of a core programme of linked fundamental research projects and a series of industry specific activities. Many of these have a strong focus on technology transfer and practical implementation. The core programme is geared towards the longer term needs of the EDC's clients. The approaches focus on generic design problems associated with the made to order sector. Project work both recent and current can be classified into three general areas:

  • Technology transfer, developing and implementing the output of research from the core programme
  • Sector specific projects, focusing upon the requirements of industrial partners in areas such as aircraft systems, offshore engineering and the marine and nuclear environment
  • Individual company projects addressing the specific needs - projects not directly related to the core research programme, that frequently bring together multi-disciplinary research teams from diverse backgrounds

Current and previous clients include: BAE Systems, BNFL, AMEC, Rolls-Royce, Kvaerner (now Aker), Siemens Power Generation, CORUS plc, Newcastle City Council, Your Homes Newcastle and Sleekburn Renewable Wood Fuels Initiative.

Further information