North East Manufacturing, Materials & Mobility R&D Companies Directory

The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) is a UK-based technology innovation centre and part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult network. It specialises in bridging the gap between early-stage research and commercialisation by providing open-access facilities, technical expertise, and collaborative R&D support across biopharmaceuticals, sustainable materials, and advanced manufacturing. Their work focuses on accelerating the adoption of green, efficient, and scalable processes for complex industries including healthcare, food, and energy.

The Materials Processing Institute is a research and technology organisation (RTO) based in Middlesbrough that specialises in the decarbonisation and digital transformation of foundation industries, particularly steel and metals. They provide industrial-scale pilot facilities and expertise to develop circular economy solutions, advanced materials, and energy-efficient manufacturing processes. Their work bridges the gap between fundamental research and commercial application, supporting the UK's transition to net zero.

Newcastle University is a leading UK academic institution that acts as a major hub for translational research, bridging the gap between fundamental science and industrial application. Their work spans diverse domains including advanced therapies, power electronics, digital pathology, and sustainable energy systems, often facilitating large-scale collaborative consortia. By leveraging deep domain expertise, they provide critical R&D infrastructure and technical validation to support the commercialisation of emerging technologies across the healthcare, manufacturing, and energy sectors.

Cummins Ltd is a major global manufacturer specialising in advanced power solutions, including internal combustion engines, hydrogen-fuelled powertrains, and electrified systems for heavy-duty automotive and maritime applications. Their work has evolved from traditional engine remanufacturing and circular economy business models to the development of zero-emission propulsion technologies, including hydrogen internal combustion engines and digital materials science tools for component reliability. They leverage extensive collaborative R&D partnerships with UK universities and industry leaders to accelerate the decarbonisation of heavy-duty transport sectors.

AVID Technology develops electrified ancillaries, crank assist generators, and powertrain components for medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, buses, and off-highway machinery. Their work spans mild hybrid trucks, fuel cell electric powertrains, axial flux motors, and thermal management systems, evolving from feasibility studies to collaborative R&D with major OEMs like Jaguar Land Rover, Caterpillar, and Eaton.

Autotech Engineering R&D is a specialist engineering consultancy focused on lightweighting and advanced manufacturing processes for the automotive sector. They develop hybrid material structural solutions, joining technologies, and generative design tools to reduce vehicle mass and embedded carbon. Their work has evolved from specific component-level joining research to holistic, circular-economy-focused design methodologies for net-zero vehicle production.

Turbo Power Systems is a specialist engineering firm focused on the design and manufacture of high-performance power electronic converters and electrical machines. Their work spans the development of advanced energy management systems, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) charging infrastructure, and wide-bandgap semiconductor applications for automotive and industrial sectors. Over their grant history, they have evolved from developing micro-grid interconnectors to leading complex supply chain initiatives for Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) power electronics.

Poseidon Plastics specialises in chemical recycling of waste PET (polyethylene terephthalate) to create a circular economy for polyester. Their enhanced recycling technology converts multi-layer and coloured PET waste, which is currently unrecyclable, into BHET monomer—the building block for new PET. The company's work is focused on a single demonstrator project aimed at scaling up this process with industry partners to reduce landfill, incineration, and fossil fuel dependence.

MJR Power & Automation specialises in developing offshore charging infrastructure for electric vessels servicing offshore wind farms. Their work spans feasibility studies, prototype development, and field trials of charging systems integrated into wind turbines and service operation vessels, supporting the decarbonisation of maritime logistics.

Wood is a global consulting and engineering firm that provides technical services across the energy, industrial, and infrastructure sectors. Their work focuses on decarbonisation, advanced robotics for hazardous environments, and chemical recycling technologies. Through their grant history, they have evolved from fundamental feasibility studies in carbon capture to leading large-scale industrial demonstrators for plastic circularity and net-zero infrastructure.

Renew ELP operates a hydrothermal upgrading demonstration plant in Teesside that converts end-of-life plastics into hydrocarbon feedstock for new plastics and chemicals. The company uses supercritical water to chemically recycle mixed plastics that are difficult to process mechanically, focusing on scaling this technology to commercial scale.

Newcastle University is a leading UK research institution that actively collaborates with industry partners to translate academic expertise into commercial applications across aerospace, energy, and healthcare sectors. Their research portfolio spans advanced propulsion systems, sensor-based energy management, and data-driven diagnostic tools. Through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and collaborative R&D, they bridge the gap between fundamental research and industrial implementation.

CAV Systems specialises in advanced aerospace engineering, focusing on the development of composite engine inlet assemblies and nacelle technologies. Their work integrates anti-icing and erosion protection systems to enhance aircraft performance through improved acoustic attenuation and drag reduction. The company has demonstrated technical expertise in complex material integration within the aerospace manufacturing sector.

Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) is a specialist manufacturer of subsea engineering equipment, focusing on remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous systems for extreme offshore environments. Their work has evolved from enhancing mechanical ROV performance for wind farm infrastructure to developing advanced autonomous mapping and deep-sea exploration platforms. They integrate robotics, sensor fusion, and intelligent navigation to improve operational efficiency and data collection in challenging maritime conditions.

Additive Manufacturing Solutions is a micro/small enterprise specialising in additive manufacturing (AM) for aerospace and medical applications. Their work spans material reuse, process efficiency, and qualification of AM parts, including soluble support technologies, predictive software for powder reuse, and non-destructive testing methods. They consistently collaborate with industry leaders such as Airbus and GKN on Innovate UK and ATI programmes.

AESC UK is a major battery technology manufacturer specialising in the production of high-safety lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. The company operates a significant manufacturing facility in Sunderland and is actively expanding its capabilities through feasibility studies and collaborative R&D into battery circularity. Their work focuses on scaling domestic production capacity while integrating advanced technologies for battery reuse, recycling, and energy balancing.

Advanced Electric Machines Research is a UK-based SME developing switched reluctance electric machines that eliminate rare-earth magnets and copper windings. Their technology focuses on high-performance electric drive systems for automotive, agricultural, and commercial vehicle applications, validated through collaborations with OEMs like Bentley Motors and CNH Industrial. The company has progressed from fundamental motor design to integrated e-axle prototypes and recycling of rare-earth magnets.

Hyperdrive Innovation Limited is a battery technology company based in the North East, specialising in energy storage solutions for extreme environments and off-highway applications. Their work spans lithium-sulfur chemistry for ultra-low temperatures, high energy density packs for automotive, and zero emission powertrains for construction machinery. The company has collaborated with major industrial partners including JCB and Nissan, and has evolved from feasibility studies to collaborative R&D projects.

Weardale Lithium is developing a domestic source of 'green' lithium from geothermal brines in the North Pennines, aiming to supply the UK's emerging battery supply chain. Their technology involves direct lithium extraction (DLE) from brine with low heavy metal content, and they are collaborating with Tees Valley Lithium to establish an integrated borehole-to-battery-grade lithium refining process. Their work has progressed from feasibility studies to pilot-scale refining projects.

Fuzzy Logic Studio is a micro/small enterprise based in North East England that develops augmented reality and virtual reality training platforms, using gamification and simulation to address skills gaps in green industries, particularly automotive electrification and renewable energy. Their work has evolved from creating an AR app for the ProtoEV STEM Challenge to building the TrainAR platform and contributing to industrial digital toolchains for luxury electric vehicle manufacturing.