The MNT Academy is a key partner in next generation engineering initiative, EXGEN, which provides a one route resource for businesses utilising world class capabilities and facilities of three micro nano technology centres in Wales. The consortium is led by Cardiff University and comprises of seven founding organisations: further education colleges at Bridgend, Carmarthen and Wrexham, the universities of Swansea and Bangor, sector skills council SEMTA, and the UK Laser Micromachining Centre. Links to the partners are in the LINKS section.
The vision of the MNT Academy is to grow its partnership with other providers of MNT knowledge, training, courses and facilities across the UK and Europe. If you are interested in providing additional materials, access to facilities or you have any ideas on how to build MNT skills across industry and academe then please contact the MNT Academy Manager.
Director - Professor David Barrow - david.barrow@metafab.net
David has overall responsibility with particular strategic focus on developing the long term sustainability of the MNT Academy.
David is Professor of Microsystems Technology and Director of the Laboratory for Applied Microsystems. He has wide ranging interests including microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip, drug discovery, precision farming and space biology. He runs the DTI MNT Network supported metaFAB at Cardiff University offering high-level solutions based on MNT convergence. metaFAB integrates the expertise and resources of diverse centres, laboratories and supply chain partners. His most recent acquisition is a state of the art extreme laser facility offering a unique dual laser platform 157nm and 795nm lasers.
Manager - Richard Bahu -
richard.bahu@mntacademy.org
Richard has day to day responsibility for the management of the MNT Academy.
Richard is a senior industrial fellow at the School of Engineering at Cardiff. He is a chartered Chemical Engineer and Fellow of the IChemE. He led the industrial survey of skills and training needs on MNT for Wales and the UK which informed the setting up the MNT Academy. Richard has extensive experience of DTI and EPSRC programmes and projects including management, technology transfer and online lifelong learning. He has knowledge of MNT, the open access facilities and the work of the MNT Network. He is also involved in the Chemistry Innovation Knowledge Transfer Network supported by DTI.
External Links Managers - Anthony Armitage, Mick Card, David Bonnell
A key activity of the MNT Academy is to work closely with Welsh industry, particularly SMEs. The Academy is fortunately to have three managers working specifically of building direct links with companies across Wales and with intermediaries that can act as multipliers. They can provide insights into how MNT can add value to any businesses products and services across virtually all sectors, including, Advanced Textiles, Aerospace, Automotive, Construction, Creative Industries, Energy, Food & Drink, High Tech, Medical and Healthcare, Life Sciences, Marine, Materials, Photonics and Security. They can identify the knowledge required to exploit MNT and provide direction to the appropriate training available through the Academy's partners as well as facilities.
Anthony ArmitageBased at Colegsirgar and Usk, Anthony retired in June 2006 from the Technology and Innovation unit in the Department of Enterprise Innovation and Networks of the Welsh Assembly Government. He had been running the T&I R and D and commercialisation programmes and since 2004 had been responsible for the initiation and coordination of the Welsh bids to the DTi's Nano and Micro Technology capital funding programme and represented Wales on the UK NMT network. Prior to that he set up and ran the Wales Innovation Relay Centre which helped Welsh Universities and companies to access R&D funding from the European Commission. He has had a wide experience of management in engineering companies in nuclear and conventional power in the USA and UK, and latterly the design, development and manufacture of printing and packaging machinery.
David Bonnell
Based at Colegsirgar, 5 Year apprenticeship in Mechanical Eng, with experience in all aspects in Iron and Steel Foundry work, Automotive white goods Design, Manufacture, Maintenance and Training roles, Steel Manufacture and Rolling operations, NVQ Assessor, Verifier and Coordinator, Lecturer in Engineering and Manufacturing Principles.
Mick Card
Currently the Commercial Manager of IBMM and ICON at the University of Wales, Bangor, Mick has extensive experience of commercial and operational positions in UK and international B2B, including major vehicle leasing businesses. He developed training for international and finance specialists Euromoney training.
To arrange an initial telephone call or a visit please contact Richard Bahu on richard.bahu@mntacademy.org who will arrange an appointment with the closest manager to your location.