England's East Midlands has key research expertise in many areas of advanced engineering, particularly rapid manufacturing and process engineering.

University expertise

• Loughborough University's Innovative Manufacturing and Construction Research Centre covers a range of research issues from design, processes and materials to business and management, including manufacturing, construction, systems engineering and computer science.
• Located within the Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, the Additive Manufacturing Research Group (AMRG) at Loughborough University is widely regarded as the world's leading centre for Additive Manufacturing (AM) research, development and dissemination.
• De Montfort University’s Centre for Manufacturing, Lean Group supports industry with: the design, implementation and sustainment of lean 6-sigma practices; work systems improvement using discrete event simulation; creative problem solving; and the application of artificial intelligence modeling to improving operations planning and scheduling.
• The University of Nottingham is proud to be home to two Rolls-Royce University Technology Centres (UTCs) – part of a network of only 21 such centres of excellence worldwide. 

The UTC for Gas Turbine Transmission Systems opened in 1997, followed by the Manufacturing Technology Centre in 1999. Both conduct world-class research and development for the global giant, with Rolls-Royce reporting to have experienced significant business benefits from such links: the company has been able to apply advanced academic research techniques to specific industrial needs, providing the innovative solutions that yield step change improvements in products and processes.

Benefits are mutual and continuous, since the academic community tackles 'real-world' engineering challenges and solutions. In addition, there is a resulting steady flow of high-quality engineers with a better understanding of industry priorities.