Derby’s £400m technology park project reveals first major partner

A company formed to drive forward the development of a £400 million advanced technology park in Derby has announced its first major partner.

UK Fusion Energy has become the first to sign up to the INFINITY advanced manufacturing project.

The organisation, which is responsible for delivering the UK’s first prototype fusion power plant, has agreed a strategic partnership with INFINITY to develop manufacturing capabilities needed for the STEP Fusion programme.

STEP is being developed at West Burton, in Nottinghamshire, creating a direct link between the major energy project and plans for a 200-acre advanced manufacturing site at Infinity Park Derby.

INFINITY chief executive Prof Gary Jones said: “A key objective of INFINITY is to bring sovereign manufacturing of advanced components to the UK, and this agreement will help to achieve that.

“STEP Fusion is shaping the future of UK energy supply and is a fitting first partner for the transformational technology capability we are developing through INFINITY.”

INFINITY is planned as a major advanced manufacturing campus bringing together full-scale prototyping, digital engineering, testing and validation, skills development and supply chain collaboration.

Recently, a joint venture agreement was signed by Infinity Technology Group Ltd, the University of Derby, Manufacturing Technology Centre and Loughborough University, to create INFINITY.

The project is ultimately expected to cost around £400 million and has ambitions to support more than 2,500 skilled jobs and thousands more across its supply chain.

It is intended to provide facilities for businesses working in highly regulated sectors including nuclear, defence, aerospace and advanced manufacturing.

UK Fusion Energy will help shape INFINITY’s capabilities around the requirements of STEP, including the manufacture, inspection and validation of large, complex components.

Technologies expected to be required include hot isostatic pressing, power beam welding and additive manufacturing.

The partnership comes as the UK seeks to develop manufacturing and validation capabilities that do not currently exist domestically at the scale required by the fusion programme.

Building those capabilities in Britain could reduce reliance on overseas facilities, protect intellectual property and give the UK greater control over strategically important components and technologies.

Dan Bishop, chief commercial officer at UK Fusion Energy, said: “Delivering STEP Fusion will depend on manufacturing capabilities that do not yet exist at the scale we need.

“This partnership gives us the opportunity to help shape those capabilities around the future needs of the programme.

“By working with INFINITY, we can support the development of advanced manufacturing, testing and validation capability in the UK, while creating more opportunities for industry to contribute to STEP and the wider fusion economy.”