Download the final report here

The Gloucester Valley Battle Monument

In 2006 the Stern Report was published causing the international community to sit-up and understand the importance of not waiting to act on climate change. It was estimated that if we do not act now, the impact of climate change could cost up £3.68 trillion. This prompted countries to develop sustainability strategies to try an tackle the problem. However, every country has adopted different strategies and two such countries are South Korea and Japan, two great industrialised economies. Widely regarded as global industrial leaders, how are they addressing their environmental impact and what does the future hold for this region? How can UK business learn from the successes of these two great countries?

With a long tradition of visiting areas of importance to global manufacturing, Cambridge Manufacturing Engineering (MET) students are embarking on an extensive research project to find the answers to these questions. Presenting honest and challenging insight into current manufacturing trends, their findings promise to deliver a detailed analysis of this region’s future role in the world’s manufacturing community.

Our sponsors

The Overseas Research Project's success is heavily dependent on the generosity of our sponsors. We would like to thank them for kindly supporting us in what promises to be an exciting and fruitful research project.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsor benefits include receiving up-to-date information and analysis concerning the region's industrial development and prominent publicity both in Cambridge and abroad, together with unique access to Cambridge University Manufacturing Engineering students. To discuss sponsorship options please get in touch using the contact details in the left side menu.

Notes

• You will receive an electronic copy of the report along with two paper copies
• If you wish to make a lunch time presentation rather than an evening presentation there will be a premium for this due to restrictions with lectures within the department

Resource sharing

Assistance to the trip need not only be financial. You can assist the facilitation of the overseas research project by sharing your company’s resources. For example:

• Access to company booking systems for accommodation, flights and other travel arrangements
• In country contacts and local connections
• Knowledge and expertise in the area of research

Sponsor a student

If you personally know any of the students who will be participating in the Overseas Research Project, you are welcome to support them as an individual. A direct contribution to individuals of £1000 would entitle you to either Brand Exposure or Research Collaboration.

Project objectives

• Deliver detailed, high-quality research to industry and government.
• Gain an understanding of how green strategies may be best implemented in order to ensure sustainable growth.
• Provide the students with a global perspective on manufacturing operations through first-hand research of current and important topics.
• Strengthen links between UK industry, the IfM and host countries.
• Key areas of research are:
• What does it mean to be sustainable in the modern world? This question seeks to address the ways in which governments and businesses should respond to the environmental challenges to come. It will also take a view to looking at the impact global warming and natural disasters have on supply chain and businesses in the local and international market.
• How should Japan and Korea position themselves in the future manufacturing landscape? A much more focussed investigation into how sustainability can become a key part of Japan and Korea’s future economic and manufacturing strategy, on a world stage.
• Where do ideas come from now, and what can we do to support innovation in the future to accelerate the pace of technological and economic growth? An analysis of how current innovative environmental strategies come into practice. This is to ensure that the most promising ideas are able to be brought to the attention of those with the capability to make them a reality.

Implementation

After ten months of planning, thirty-six manufacturing students and research area specialists will spend two weeks in South Korea and Japan during July 2012. Through site visits, government contacts and local connections the group will gain invaluable insights into the success and failures of different green strategies. Findings will then be published in an in-depth research paper detailing the results of the investigation.

Contact Details

E: met-enquiries@eng.cam.ac.uk

MET Research Project 2012
Institute for Manufacturing
17 Charles Babbage Road
Cambridge CB3 0FS