RESEARCH NEWS
New research partnership starts in Wales
Swansea University and the Global Centre of Rail Excellence have agreed a major new research collaboration based at the centre ’ s home currently being constructed in South Wales .
“ The Global Centre of Rail Excellence will be a site for world-class rail research , testing and showcasing of rolling stock , infrastructure and cutting-edge new technologies ,” said the university .
The Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) signed between the two bodies will enable Swansea University and GCRE to collaborate on areas of common research interest . The university is already a well-established name in rail innovation , as an affiliate of the UK Rail Research and Innovation Network ( UKRRIN ) as well as having significant expertise in areas including railway signalling , infrastructure and civil engineering .
The 700-hectare GCRE site in Onllwyn also provides significant opportunities to support study in complementary research areas such as renewable energy , natural sciences and a wide range of engineering disciplines . The partnership allows the site to be utilised by academics from across the university .
Separate to this MoU , Swansea University
Senior representatives from the Global Centre of Rail Excellence and Swansea University at the site which is currently under construction in Onllwyn , South Wales .
will also be a partner in a new ‘ Centre of Excellence for Railway Testing , Validation and Customer Experience at GCRE , alongside the University of Birmingham and Cardiff University , following a £ 15 million award from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund .
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering , Professor David Smith , said : “ We are delighted to strengthen our existing relationship with GCRE and enter a more formalised partnership . Our collaboration will include skills development ; student training and innovation in digital twinning ; energy and net zero ; materials and infrastructure ; and environmental science while supporting regional and national rail technology and innovation .
“ GCRE is a unique facility within the UK and , indeed , Europe , and we are very fortunate to have it on our doorstep . We look forward to developing opportunities for impactful research and education through this new partnership ,” he continued . n
www . swansea . ac . uk
Accelerating small business decarbonisation
A group of leading researchers in the UK are calling for urgent government action to rapidly scale decarbonisation efforts among small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) to help achieve national net zero targets .
Researchers from the University of Oxford , Sheffield Hallam University and The Open University highlight that SMEs have been overlooked in climate policymaking despite accounting for an estimated 50 % of UK commercial and industrial energy use , representing a significant source of emissions . They found that support programmes for SMEs were often small-scale , piecemeal and poorly evaluated . The research also found decarbonisation pressures varying significantly across sectors from hospitality where there is little regulation , to construction and steel who face global pressures and skills shortages .
The authors suggest that multiple crises ( extreme weather events ; the pandemic ; increased geopolitical instability ; global supply chain disruption and energy price rises ) offer a unique opportunity for transformative policy approaches to accelerate SME decarbonisation . The research argues that governance of SME decarbonisation must play a more prominent role in climate policy .
Above ( L-R :) Richard Blundel , Open University , and Will Eadson , Sheffield Hallam University .
The researchers call for greater coordination between public and private initiatives , increased investment in SMEs as enablers of sustainability and a redefinition of the relationship between SMEs , government and the public . Researchers must also collaborate to provide robust evidence guiding effective climate policy .
Will Eadson , Professor of Urban and Regional Studies , Sheffield Hallam University , said : “ The turbulence created by multiple global crises is providing new opportunities to engage SMEs on environmental issues and raise expectations for their role in climate action . We urge policymakers to implement flexible arrangements that empower SMEs
to reduce emissions across their business operations and supply chains . SMEs have undeniable potential for climate action through their influence on behaviours and markets .”
Dr . Sam Hampton , researcher in the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford , commented : “ SMEs form the backbone of every economy , and they therefore have a crucial role to play in addressing climate change . In times of economic , social and climatic turbulence , there is potential to change the conduct of business as usual , and responding to the demands of climate change is a core part of the ‘ new normal ’.”
Richard Blundel , Professor of Enterprise and Organisation , The Open University , added : “ Our reviews of existing provision and interviews with key stakeholders revealed stark differences in the amount and the quality of support available to SMEs . We ’ ve seen really impressive examples in particular industry sectors and parts of the UK , but the overall picture remains fairly patchy .”
The findings are part of the Go Zero project , funded by the UK Energy Research Centre , and have been published in in the journal ‘ Global Environmental Change ’. n
16 | ismr . net | ISMR February 2024