The East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is to establish a new body called the Transport Equipment iNet, the innovation network for the Transport Equipment sector, with the Midlands Aerospace Alliance set to play a leading role in its set-up and operation. The Transport Equipment iNet is designed to boost innovation in the East Midlands. This will include assisting aerospace companies to prepare them for success in future global aerospace markets.

The MAA will play a leading support role as part of its series of new aerospace support initiatives.  The iNet for the region’s transport equipment sector will have its hub at the Systems Engineering Innovation Centre (SEIC) at Loughborough University, with the MAA as the node for working closely with the aerospace community. The iNet is charged with delivering the strategy and action plan of East Midlands Innovation, the group responsible for promoting innovation in the region. That plan calls for bringing together research expertise and business to increase innovation, supporting business to be more innovative, productive and competitive, recognising best practice in innovation, and identifying and prioritizing investment in enabling and emerging technologies

Building the MAA into the iNet structure will ensure the new body’s effectiveness in meeting the needs of MAA members through its network. Aerospace will be a leading transport sector to be supported because of the advanced role of the MAA, with others to follow through their respective industry bodies. MAA chief executive Andrew Mair said: “With the MAA Innovation and Technology working group playing a key role in advising the iNet on aerospace, we can steer this exciting new body to help it make the most effective impact on future competitiveness for aerospace in the East Midlands.”

emda’s Innovation and International Director David Wallace added: “This approach to innovation is unique because, for the first time, iNets will being together key partners to work together to boost innovation within specific sector communities. It’s vital that we bring business and universities together so that research and the exploitation of new ideas can act as a catalyst for increased economic prosperity and a flourishing sector.”

The MAA is also developing plans with emda to set up a programme of support for SC21, the national 21st Century Supply Chains programme, across East Midlands aerospace, and ensure the region’s companies have access to business strategy support similar to the MAA’s West Midlands Aerospace Business Strategy Programme.