29 Jun 2010 | Ref. 129/2010

Glasgow, United Kingdom: BAE Systems has today announced its intention to establish four new university partnerships in the field of maritime engineering, worth at least £5 million over the next five years, as part of its research and development investment in the maritime sector. Marking the official launch of the scheme, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Heriot-Watt University, with a further three university partners to be named over the next 12 months.

The initiative is part of BAE Systems’ continued drive to invest in high-end research and skills, which are vital not only to its own business as a leading global defence player and UK’s largest employer of engineers, but also to the long-term competitiveness of the wider UK economy.

The collaborations will include investment in long-term research projects as well as programmes to apply new technological solutions to the design, build and support of naval ships and their engineering systems. Under the agreements, BAE Systems will provide industrial placements for students and guest lecturers. Both partners will also offer continuous professional development opportunities for employees and reciprocal secondments to strengthen the relationships between academia and industry.

Alan Johnston, Managing Director of BAE Systems Surface Ships, commented: “These partnerships will focus on platform systems technologies, systems engineering and readiness and sustainment, which are vital to deliver new and better capabilities to our customers.

“By working closely with universities, which are recognised as the best in their field, we will not only drive continuous innovation in our business, but also further boost the quality of research within universities by ensuring it has practical applications in industry. We hope that this will play a role in tackling future skills shortages, by enhancing the learning experience for students and encouraging more people to pursue careers within engineering.”

Professor Steve Chapman, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, said: ”Developing collaborations between world-class organisations such as BAE Systems and Heriot-Watt is what our University is all about.  Such formal relationships ensure that Heriot-Watt continues to be aware of business priorities, so we can tailor our offerings and research to ensure we meet our ambition of producing the next generation of global leaders in business and technology. 

“The relationship with BAE Systems allows the company access to the University’s unique resources, enhancing its engineering reputation and achieving long-term engineering excellence while we will further increase our reputation for the quality and applicability of our research.”

Edinburgh based Heriot-Watt University has a well-established reputation for the quality of its teaching and applied research in science, engineering and technology. The first research project to be established under the partnership will focus on developing an advanced computer software package that will control and reduce gases required during the welding process, helping to reduce both costs and environmental impact.

BAE Systems is one of the biggest UK supporters of education and skills, investing £50 million per annum to support its commitment to life-long learning. The Company is committed to investing in the skills of both its existing workforce and to playing a key role in supporting the development of future engineers in the UK. BAE Systems has links with approximately 100 universities globally through its university partnerships programme, with over 30 of these with UK institutions.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services.  In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).

For further information, please contact:

Kristina Crowe, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 239 289 6232 Mob: +44 (0)7540628673
kristina.crowe@baesystems.com

Gillian Churchill, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0) 141 957 2150 Mob: +44 (0)7540628325
Gillian.churchill@baesystems.com

Issued by:

BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384719 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
24hr media hotline: + 44 (0) 7801 717739
www.baesystems.com