The Yorkshire and Humber region offers unrivalled support to businesses investing in our area. Here are just some examples of the outstanding industry support offered to the growing number of ambitious investors that have seen their business grow in one of the UK's fastest growing regions.

The following Centres of Industrial Collaboration can unlock cutting edge technical expertise or provide the specialist resources this industry needs.

As manufacturers continually seek and apply new manufacturing materials that are lighter and stronger, developments in polymer science are offering new solutions. The Polymer CIC, based at the University of Bradford, is investigating novel materials to be used both for compartment interiors of aircraft and also engine components, which offer benefits such as reduced weight versus metals and lower cost manufacturing methods.

Expertise in generating high performance structures with least weight resides in the Engineering Design CIC, based at the University of Hull. In a recent collaborative project undertaken with BAE Systems, the Centre developed a unique stress concentration evaluation software system to replace hard copy data and text book analysis of stress concentration aspects of aircraft structures, leading to significant reduction in research pipeline timescales.

The need for more rapid and precise manufacturing of materials is also a major driver of the Precision Technologies CIC. Based at the University of Huddersfield it offers an internationally-acclaimed one-stop-shop for precision engineering and metrology. The centre boasts the cutting edge 'Nanolab', the only metrology lab of its kind in the UK and one of the most advanced in Europe.

With the development of new materials, it follows that cutting tool makers must develop tools that can machine them at the highest possible levels of productivity. The Materials Analysis & Research Services CIC has developed a new generation of nanoscale, multilayer physical vapour deposition (PVD) high-performance coatings which address corrosion, stress fatigue and other environmental factors and can be used to protect cutting tools used for the dry-drilling of alloys.

The impact of electronics and software has increased dramatically in recent years and will continue to gain importance in the future. The Wireless Technologies CIC can help businesses develop new wireless technology-lead products.

The following centres of innovative R&D also offer unrivalled support to Advanced Engineering & Materials investing in the region

• The National Metals Technology Centre is the UK's research and skills centre for metals technology. NAMTEC stimulates high technology innovation by providing metallurgical support, R&D and training to UK engineering and manufacturing companies.
• The World Centre for Materials Joining Technology provides industry with engineering solutions in welding, joining and associated technologies, and is the only single source of expertise in every aspect of joining technology for metals, plastics, ceramics and composites.
• The Advanced Manufacturing Park offers a unique location to access and share the very latest manufacturing and material technologies. An international hub for engineering research and manufacture, the park is a key enabler for the development of high technology in the region for the aerospace, high performance automotive, and medical devices industries.
• The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) has been established to help manufacturing businesses across the region access affordable, practical manufacturing expertise with the aim of boosting efficiency and productivity levels. Supported by a network of DTI approved Centres of Expertise in Manufacturing and the best academia, MAS helps develop more efficient manufacturing businesses.
• The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is based on the park. A multi-million pound partnership with Boeing, it builds on the shared scientific excellence, expertise and technological innovation of the world's leading aerospace company and the world-class research within the University of Sheffield's Faculty of Engineering, to create a world class centre of excellence for aeroplane manufacturing methods and techniques.
• Yorkshire Science is the Science and Innovation Council established to deliver commercial value from science and innovation in the Yorkshire and Humber region.