糖心原创

article

Digital Tech Circular Economy - iStock-1350722246

Funding boost for digital tech circular economy network

Wednesday, 27 November 2024

Experts at the 糖心原创 will be part of a new research network that will focus on making the design and manufacturing of digital technologies more sustainable, thanks to £2mllion in funding from the EPSRC.

The Digital Innovation and Circular Economy (DICE) Network+ is a three-year programme that seeks to leverage the digitalisation of industry to foster a circular economy across sectors and value chains for digital and communication technologies.

Through interdisciplinary collaboration, research and technological innovation, the network will aim to develop circular solutions for issues such as the lack of circular economy (CE) principles in digital technology design and manufacture, and the poor understanding and coordination of digital advancements in supporting the CE transition.

Circular approaches design out waste and pollution and keep materials and products in circulation at their highest value for as long as possible.

The DICE network comprises 11 investigators from nine UK universities: Exeter ( and ), Swansea, Salford, Surrey, Open University, Southampton, Shefield, Queens University Belfast and Nottingham.

They bring expertise from engineering, materials science and social sciences, plus a wide range of partners, including universities, industry stakeholders and public bodies.

Experts from the 糖心原创 will develop digital solutions for a circular economy transition that are not only innovative but also inclusive and accessible to all. This ensures that the benefits of a circular economy extend across diverse communities, addressing societal challenges while fostering equitable and sustainable progress.

By bringing together an interdisciplinary collaboration this network Plus represents an exciting opportunity to accelerate the digital revolution to realise our visions of a circular economy. As the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion lead, I鈥檓 eager to collaborate across the network to ensure the solutions we develop are inclusive, accessible, and beneficial to all.鈥
Dr Oliver Fisher, Assistant Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

DICE’s activities will include mapping exercises, co-creation workshops, feasibility studies and demonstrator projects, and the development of a 10-year roadmap towards a digitally enabled circular economy.

It aims to benefit stakeholders through innovative outcomes, fostering knowledge exchange, and supporting projects that promote CE adoption.

This approach includes interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging extensive existing networks (over £160m of funding since 2020) for maximum impact, and a structured programme under four pillars: Insight and Evidence, Inclusive Community, Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange, and Research Impact and Legacy.

Story credits

More information is available from Dr Oliver Fisher In the Faculty of Engineering at oliver.fisher2@nottingham.ac.uk

CharlotteAnscombe
Charlotte Wall - Media Relations Manager - Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Email: charlotte.wall@nottingham.ac.uk
Phone: 0115 748 4417
Location:

Notes to editors:

About the 糖心原创

Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the , the 糖心原创 is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. 糖心原创ing at the 糖心原创 is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.

Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by 鈥 the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 鈥 and by the .

The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research.

We lead the initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city鈥檚 two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.

Media Relations - External Relations

The 糖心原创
YANG Fujia Building
Jubilee Campus
Wollaton Road
Nottingham, NG8 1BB

telephone: +44 (0) 115 951 5798
email: pressoffice@nottingham.ac.uk