The Computational Engineering and Design group operates at the intersection of academia and industry, maintaining a vast network of partners that ensures our research addresses the most pressing challenges in global engineering. Our collaborations range from long-standing strategic alliances with aerospace giants to agile partnerships with innovative tech start-ups.
Strategic industrial partners
We host and contribute to several major industrial research centres, providing the expertise required for large-scale digital transformation and system optimization:
- Airbus: In partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, we host a dedicated Chair in Design Process Digitalisation, focusing on automating industrial design processes and high-fidelity wing optimization.
- BAE Systems: Our collaboration focuses on systems modelling, aerospace design, non-invasive imaging of composite structures, and the development of digital twins for advanced flying vehicles.
- Boeing: Our collaboration focuses on advanced NDT & E and automated aircraft inspection.
- CIRA (Italian Centre for Aerospace Research): We collaborate on high-impact aerospace structures and provide technical and scientific contributions to major international programs such as the Space Rider project.
- JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency): Our partnership focuses on the cutting edge of flight autonomy, specifically developing AI-based control systems for next-generation aerial vehicles.
- Leonardo Aerostructure: We conduct vital research into novel lightweight materials and aerospace structural integrity for the Italian aerospace leader.
- Rolls-Royce: Home to the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre (UTC) for Computational Engineering, we collaborate extensively on gas turbine design and digital design transformation through projects like REPLENISH and Nene.
Specialized technology and sector partners
Our research impacts diverse sectors, including autonomous systems, maritime safety, and automotive efficiency:
- Lloyd’s Register & ST Engineering Antycip: We collaborate on maritime engineering, Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI), and safety-critical computational modelling for the marine and defense sectors.
- Luffy AI: A key partner in accelerating the development of adaptive AI flight controllers for UAVs and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) platforms.
- Microsoft: As the home of the Microsoft Institute for High Performance Computing, we drive advancements in large-scale engineering simulations and cloud-based computation.
- Volkswagen and Mubea: Our researchers develop topology optimization techniques for thermal management in electric vehicles and next-generation automotive components.