Coventry University set to receive £5 million grant to fund digital laboratory equipped with metal 3D printing technology
Coventry University has announced an ‘innovative’ digital laboratory is to be created at the institution to further help students learn in-demand skills within the healthcare and engineering sectors.
The ‘Precision Digital Manufacturing and Healthcare Technology Lab’ has been awarded 5 million GBP from the Student Office According to the university, they will be equipped with standard digital technologies like metal 3D printing and high end radiography equipment.
Students from Coventry University’s Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing, as well as students from the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, will both benefit from the facility, and will learn how to use specialist equipment employed in both health and engineering sectors.
According to the university it is hoped the lab will foster collaboration and possibly lead to innovations in areas like prosthetics or wearable technologies. These areas require both expertise.
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“Digitisation of healthcare is the future and in order to develop this area we need to have access to this high-cost equipment, enabling us to train the specialists that our hospitals are calling out for,” said Professor Stephen Hagen, Interim Academic Dean at Coventry University’s Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. “We already have equipment to train our students in diagnostic radiography, but this new laboratory will make it possible to teach therapeutic radiography, which is the use of radiation to treat cancer.”
Professor Catherine Hobbs, Academic Dean at Coventry University’s Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing, said: “The precision 3D printing technology available will mean we can create useable components for healthcare applications, while digital twinning will allow us to simulate how objects work in a virtual environment.”
Coventry University’s team was enthusiastic about this project. They said that the opportunity to invest in such technology is rare.
Susan Lapworth, Chief Executive of the Office for Students said: “Investing in modern buildings and modern equipment will help universities and colleges in England prepare students for their future careers. Modern laboratories and state of the art technology ensure students have access to the best learning facilities. Our investment will also increase the provision of short courses that offer flexibility to boost the skills of the workforce.”
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