About Us

The Sir Joseph Swan Centre is an interdisciplinary research centre within Newcastle University. It provides the focus for energy related research across the University and incorporates researchers from 11 academic schools specialising in:

  • natural science;
  • social science;
  • engineering.

The researchers involved with the Centre already have extensive industrial collaborations and the close integration of the research team enhances the industrial offering.

The Centre provides the vehicle for inter-institution collaboration and bridges academia, other centres such as NaREC and CPI, the regional development agency and industry.

The Centre’s research activity is aligned with strategic national and regional drivers, including the Government's declared strategies in the Energy White Paper, and with initiatives such as the national Energy Technologies Institute. The goal of the Centre thus positions itself alongside the Newcastle Science City agenda, as well as existing centres and research institutes both within the University and externally, and within the supporting mechanisms of One NorthEast.

Aims

  • Integrate existing (hitherto disparate) energy research activities.
  • Develop new synergistic research strands.
  • Provide a focused management capability, able to respond with agility to the rapidly-changing currents of policy and public perception in this crucial area.

Objectives

  • Consolidate and expand current research and knowledge transfer activities.
  • Accelerate training provision in energy technology, particularly in areas related to the low carbon economy.
  • Provide for interdisciplinary research, using the associated ‘critical mass’ to help attract new opportunities for research and commercial activity.