While attending the UK Manufacturing Summit recently a lively debate evolved during the day. With speakers from industry, government and finance the revitalisation of UK manufacturing was a clear and well received agenda.
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Innovation and the creation of intellectual property (IP) was a theme across many of the presentations, with a recognition that investment in engineering skills and resources was essential. It was with pride that many engineers spoke out at the devalued “engineering” label, why is isn't a high value profession in the UK and questions asked to government bodies as to the programmes and actions are needed to reverse this trend.
Two major themes emerged in the discussion sessions around developing and recognising IP and its future protection. The current Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and Catapult programmes have a strong focus on Advanced Manufacturing where new materials and processes provide the environment for IP creation. Many manufacturers simply don't explore the area of registering this IP - which means simply it may well drift abroad. Chris Rea, MD of AES Engineering made several passionate points on the failure of UK manufacturers to recognise the need to register, explore and exploit IP and elaborated on the failings in education to provide this awareness.
Another underlying feeling was the UK’s lack of ability to retain the IP it has created and the feeling that much of it being is simply sold off to the highest bidder by financial institutions.
Having seen UK manufacturing lose its way and being undervalued for many decades there is still a real passion for the engineering and innovation in the UK, let’s hope this vision is maintained across governments and we see the UK regain some of its manufacturing excellence and worldwide market recognition and an economy that sees manufacturing as a valuable asset.
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