Newcastle University

The University and global consultancy Arup have signed an agreement to work together in the fields of engineering, design, technology and sustainability.

The two organisations attended a ceremony (pictured) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and will pursue a joint strategic research agenda, collaborating nationally and internationally, focused on design and engineering excellence through research.

The activities are likely to cover areas including:

• Joint exploration of climate change impacts, adaptation and carbon sequestration
• Infrastructure systems – including the modeling of networks, structures and soils
• Urban sustainability, including the ‘city-as-a-lab’ concept being developed in Newcastle and Gateshead, energy-efficient buildings, intelligent urban transport systems and integrated resource modelling.

The agreement builds on current and recent collaborations between the two organisations, which include joint work on PhD studies, staff exchanges and Royal Academy of Engineering fellow lectureships.

Philip Dilley, Chairman of Arup, said: “North East England has a distinguished industrial past, and great opportunity in the future to develop from a heavily industrialised economy to a low carbon economy. These aspirations are shared by Newcastle University and Arup, and via this agreement we hope to both support the region and demonstrate to the world the UK’s expertise in design and engineering.”

The Vice-Chancellor of Newcastle University, Professor Chris Brink, said: “We are very pleased to work with Arup. Newcastle University is one of the UK's leading institutions in Civil Engineering, with particular expertise in sustainability, which meshes well with the aims and activities of Arup. This MoU recognises that position and will build on what is already proving to be a successful and fruitful relationship.”

Arup has been working in Newcastle since 1967, and currently employs over 140 members of staff in its local offices.