The Future of Research: Supporting the Next Generation of Engineers

西门子 and the 英国伯明翰大学 have?a strategic partnership, collaborating in smart infrastructure, mobility, energy and health. In this interview, Prof Paul Beasley , Head of R&D UK at Siemens, talks with Professor Mark Sterling , Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Birmingham, about the future of R&D, sponsoring PhDs, and the global potential of their University’s ‘living lab’.?

Paul Beasley (PB):?At Siemens, we have a vested interest in the future of research into smarter infrastructure. That’s why we’ve dedicated time and resources to finding ideal university partners who overlap with these interests and help us work towards a net zero future. The University of Birmingham is one of these leading institutions, so it is an exciting opportunity for us. I wondered, Mark, what it means for the University to work with a company like Siemens.

Mark Sterling (MS):?At the base of it all, we’re two different institutions operating in two very different spheres, but when we come together, we have a lot in common. We have a real convening power between the two to bring people together for the greater good. That’s why I don’t see this relationship as just about funding. We’re bringing stakeholders together to define the research and say how can we make this something people will invest in and, from that develop, not just the fundamental scientific research but also the business models to enable this and future projects.

PB: I couldn’t agree more, especially when it comes to the potential of this research and other possible long-term avenues of investigation.

MS: That’s right. One of the key objectives of the University is “research that has impact”. Working with companies like Siemens, we can fulfil this global mission by producing research that has practical uses in the marketplace and can generate change. Already, our ‘living laboratory’ feeds research and education activity; it helps us understand what we consume in terms of energy and, in the future, will help us to change behaviours.

PB: It’s also a powerful message for students and parents.

MS: Exactly, this is the decade of net zero – that doesn’t just mean changing our behaviours, but it also means fostering the next generation of people who will go on and lead the University and companies like Siemens. By working in partnership with one another, we get to understand the challenges and opportunities that are available through greater collaboration. And at the end of the day, whilst working with Siemens is great in impact and our smart campus, it is fundamentally about people.

PB: Very true, and that speaks to the co-design of the PhD topics as well. They’re focused on two strategic areas for the University and Siemens: net zero and digital. This has helped to garner interest from our central research departments based in Munich, who already have great relationships with local universities. Still, now we have the opportunity to nurture international relations and attract investment in quality UK-based research.

MS: We often use the phrase co-created, but in the case of these research topics, they really do capture the most pressing concerns of the field from both the academic and industry perspectives. Our visit to Munich to meet with the team and break down those barriers that can exist at scale made such a difference in developing topics that complemented our interests. I’ve been surprised at how easy it is to work with Siemens.?

PB: And that’s true from our side as well. The partnership has produced a lot of interest across our business, and this is because of the ease we’ve had in developing the relationship and understanding mutual areas of interest. This is now creating broader levels of engagement.

Then there’s the future crossover of PhDs coming over to Munich to work as co-investigators on other projects and facilitating that closer engagement. The more we work together, the more we can see larger projects emerging in the long term. The ‘living lab’ itself is an excellent example of this. The campus is evidencing the potential of this technology at scale; it is a real-world demonstration of how technology can impact our world.??

MS:?I think it always helps if you’re fully embedded and have time in a place somewhere else, particularly with the company that you’re working with. It’s easy for research to become abstract if you’re not too careful. We’ve designed the whole PhD structure around constant interaction, not just with students visiting Siemens or working with Siemens but a closer relationship and travel between the key stakeholders and researchers involved at both the University and Siemens. And not just in Edgbaston but in Dubai as well.

PB: You’ve touched on an important aspect there, Mark. Siemens also has an organisation that’s based in Dubai, so we’re not just working through the UK and our HQ in Germany but starting to work alongside the University’s campus in Dubai and the extension of the ‘living lab’ there. You have a greenfield site in Dubai and a retrofit-style campus in Edgbaston, so there’s that additional dimension.

MS: We see Dubai as a fantastic opportunity to extoll the virtues of the excellent work we’re doing in the UK and to help the sustainability agenda in both countries by taking a leading role in driving that forward.

PB: And we’re here to support you along the way.

Stay tuned for more updates on the strategic partnership and to learn more about the cutting-edge research topics of our Siemens-sponsored PhD candidates.?