West Midlands Manufacturing, Materials & Mobility R&D Companies Directory

The High Value Manufacturing Catapult is the UK's primary strategic centre for industrial innovation, bridging the gap between academic research and commercial application. It operates a national network of facilities and expertise to accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies, digital supply chain solutions, and sustainable production methods across key industrial sectors. Their work has evolved from core infrastructure delivery to leading national programmes in workforce skills, hydrogen innovation, and cross-sector net zero strategies.

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is a national research and technology organisation that bridges the gap between fundamental academic research and industrial application. It specialises in advanced manufacturing, additive manufacturing, and digital engineering, providing the infrastructure and expertise to help UK companies de-risk the adoption of new technologies. Through its role as a High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre, it collaborates extensively across the aerospace, automotive, energy, and healthcare sectors to accelerate innovation and drive productivity.

The University of Warwick is a leading UK research institution that functions as a major R&D hub, bridging the gap between academic excellence and industrial application. Through its extensive grant history, the university has evolved from fundamental research into a key partner for high-value manufacturing, medtech, and digital transformation, frequently leveraging Knowledge Transfer Partnerships to embed advanced capabilities within commercial enterprises.

The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) is a national facility providing open-access battery manufacturing scale-up services to bridge the gap between prototype and mass production. They support the UK automotive and energy sectors by offering industrial-scale equipment, process development, and testing capabilities for next-generation battery technologies. Their work has evolved from individual feasibility studies and collaborative R&D projects to serving as a critical national infrastructure hub for battery manufacturing and operational excellence.

Jaguar Land Rover is a British multinational premium automotive manufacturer focused on the transition to electric mobility through extensive R&D in battery technology, power electronics, and sustainable manufacturing. The company leverages a vast network of academic and industrial partners to develop circular supply chains, lightweight composite materials, and advanced digital tools for vehicle design. Their work has evolved from traditional vehicle engineering to a deep focus on net-zero automotive technologies, battery recycling, and the integration of AI-driven modelling for whole-life sustainability.

The University of Birmingham is a leading UK research institution that leverages extensive academic-industry partnerships to drive innovation across advanced materials, healthcare technology, and sustainable energy. Their work has evolved from fundamental materials science and aerospace engineering to managing large-scale, interdisciplinary innovation accelerators that bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial deployment in the NHS and industrial sectors.

London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) is a large-scale automotive manufacturer specialising in the design and production of zero-emission capable, range-extending commercial vehicles. The company focuses on industrialising low-carbon powertrain technologies and re-shoring supply chain capabilities within the UK to support the transition to sustainable urban transport. Their work has evolved from initial hybrid vehicle development and supply chain anchoring to the industrialisation of next-generation electric vehicle platforms.

Goodrich Controls Holding Limited is a large-scale aerospace engineering firm specialising in the development of advanced propulsion and power distribution systems for hybrid and electric aircraft. Their work focuses on enhancing energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and improving thermal management through the integration of innovative motor drive systems and hybrid-electric architectures. The company consistently leads large-scale international and domestic consortia to advance the maturity of sustainable aviation technologies from conceptual research to high-TRL demonstration.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is a public sector body that acts as a strategic regional innovation catalyst, coordinating large-scale R&D and infrastructure projects across the West Midlands. Their work focuses on integrating smart energy systems, autonomous mobility solutions, and regional innovation ecosystems to drive decarbonisation and economic growth. They function as a central hub for public-private partnerships, bridging the gap between regional policy objectives and commercial technology deployment.

The University of Warwick is a leading UK research institution that actively translates academic expertise into industrial application through extensive Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) and collaborative R&D. Their work spans advanced manufacturing, digital transformation, and materials science, focusing on solving complex operational challenges for UK businesses. Over time, their grant activity has evolved from broad feasibility studies in electric vehicle infrastructure to highly targeted, deep-tech interventions in manufacturing processes and AI-driven decision support.

Goodrich Actuation Systems, a major entity within the UK aerospace sector, specialises in the development of advanced actuation, nacelle, and wing systems for next-generation commercial and supersonic aircraft. Their work focuses on enhancing aircraft efficiency through weight reduction, innovative gearing architectures, and the integration of smart health-monitoring technologies. Over their grant history, the company has evolved from individual component development to leading complex, multi-disciplinary consortia focused on sustainable wing integration and industrial decarbonisation.

Aston Martin Lagonda is a luxury automotive manufacturer focused on the development of high-performance electric and hybrid vehicle platforms. Their R&D activities centre on advanced lightweighting, battery management systems, and sustainable manufacturing processes to enhance vehicle efficiency and performance. Through strategic collaborations, they integrate cutting-edge digital toolchains and material science to transition their product portfolio towards net-zero automotive standards.

Goodrich Control Systems is a specialist in aerospace power systems, focusing on the development of more-electric aircraft architectures and propulsion technologies. Their work spans high-power density motor systems, integrated power conversion, and hybrid-electric propulsion, aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of aviation. The company consistently collaborates within large-scale international and national consortia to advance the maturity of flight-critical power systems and sustainable engine technologies.

Richmond Design & Marketing (RDM), operating through its Aurrigo division, designs and manufactures autonomous electric vehicles for urban mobility, airport logistics, and last-mile transport. The company has evolved from developing autonomous pods to deploying full-scale autonomous bus services and cargo handling systems, leveraging deep learning, swarm intelligence, and teleoperation to deliver safe, zero-emission transport solutions.

Meggitt Aerospace (now part of Parker-Meggitt) is a major Tier 1 supplier specialising in high-performance aerospace components, including thermal management systems, landing gear, and advanced composite structures. Their R&D has evolved from fundamental material science and heat exchanger development to complex systems integration for next-generation hydrogen-electric propulsion and ultra-efficient wing architectures. They consistently leverage collaborative R&D to address critical aerospace challenges such as weight reduction, additive manufacturing qualification, and the transition to net-zero aviation.

DePe Gear Company is a precision gear and transmission manufacturer based in the West Midlands, specialising in high-accuracy components for electric vehicle drivetrains, heavy commercial vehicles, and aerospace applications. The company has evolved from traditional gear manufacturing to developing advanced transmission solutions for zero-emission vehicles, collaborating with leading automotive and aerospace partners on electric drive units and aircraft taxi systems.

IPG Automotive is a micro-enterprise based in the West Midlands that specialises in simulation and digital engineering tools for the automotive sector, particularly for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) and low-carbon vehicle development. Their work spans virtual vehicle integration, lightweight structures, and real-world deployment of self-driving buses, using simulation, digital twins, and 5G teleoperation. The company has evolved from supporting Ford's virtual product development to leading and participating in autonomous vehicle deployment projects across the UK.

Potenza Technology is a specialist automotive engineering firm focused on the development of advanced electric powertrain systems, battery management technology, and vehicle integration solutions. Over their grant history, they have evolved from a collaborative partner in early-stage electric vehicle research to a lead developer of sophisticated, situationally-aware battery management systems for commercial and light-duty vehicles. Their work consistently addresses the critical challenges of battery safety, thermal management, and energy efficiency in the transition to zero-emission transport.

European Metal Recycling (EMR) is a global leader in metal recycling, specialising in the processing of complex waste streams to recover high-value materials. Their R&D efforts focus on creating circular supply chains for critical materials, including rare earth magnets from electronics and wind turbines, as well as high-grade aluminium and steel for the automotive sector. By integrating advanced sorting, refining, and digital tracking technologies, they aim to transform waste into sustainable, high-performance industrial feedstocks.

Expert Tooling & Automation is a specialist engineering firm focused on the development of advanced manufacturing systems, automated assembly, and lightweight structural technologies for the automotive and aerospace sectors. Their work centres on integrating high-performance materials, such as carbon-fibre composites and advanced alloys, with bespoke robotic and digital toolchains to enable net-zero vehicle production. The company has evolved from traditional tooling into a key partner for industrialising circular economy processes and high-volume electrification manufacturing.