The University of Birmingham has secured £42 million to launch the National Centre for Nuclear Robotics (NCNR). Leading a consortium of eight universities, the NCNR will tackle the major challenge of how to safely clean up nuclear waste.
The UK has 4.9 million tonnes of legacy nuclear waste. Cleaning this up is the largest and most complex environmental remediation task in Europe. Much of this work must be carried out by robots because the materials are too hazardous for humans. However, the robotic solutions required just do not yet exist.
The NCNR will be at the forefront of developing these technologies. Its researchers will lead the way in world-leading robotics and AI, and training the next generation of nuclear roboticists.
When asked about his thoughts on securing this funding, Professor Rustam Stolkin, Director of NCNR said:
"The University of Birmingham, our academic and industry collaborators, and our international partners are delighted to receive this funding. We very much regard this as a beginning -the start of establishing the UK as a world leading centre of excellence for nuclear robotics”.
The NCNR was featured in The Manufacturer magazine.