The IRC Industrial Club
The Polymer IRC Industry Club operated from the start of the Polymer
IRC until around 2007, with companies paying various levels of subscription.
The current Network form of the Polymer IRC still has very strong industrial
communities, which tend to be associated with one or more of our sites,
particularly in the form of Industry research contracts and collaborative
projects. Currently Bradford also operates the Bradford Industry Group,
a free technical and demonstration meeting held twice per annum. See
also our Courses page for training.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
A major aim of the IRC is to foster links with industry, research foundations
and government agencies in the UK and abroad through a variety of means.
The IRC Industrial Club is one of the important mechanisms through which the IRC interacts with the Industrial polymer science base. It consists both of large, international companies with a broad research portfolio, and smaller companies with more focussed interests.
This is made possible through a graded subscription scheme that allows individual tailoring of benefits to your needs. Club members benefit from access to the variety of expertise within the IRC. Additionally, club meetings provide an informal setting through which member organisations can liase with other companies who have interests in polymer science.
Membership of the club is open to all of the industrial community, for more information, or to join the IRC, please download the documents linked below:
Benefits of joining the Polymer IRC (PDF 256kB).
Polymer IRC Membership Form (Word .doc 140kB).
IRC Industrial Network Membership
The Academic Network
Established in 1989, the Polymer IRC is a major UK European and global focal point for multidisciplinary polymer science and soft-nanotechnology. It connects research scientists and technologists at the universities of Leeds, Bradford, Durham and Sheffield and the industrial research community , working to increase the number of active academic/industrial research partnerships in areas of common interest.
The IRC develops links for mutually beneficial collaborative work across the disciplines of chemistry, engineering, materials science and physics through the sharing of skills, knowledge and technology and encouraging entrepreneurship across the polymer research community.
The Industrial Network
A major aim of the IRC is to build strong relationships with the industrial community.
Becoming an Industrial Network Members can:
-
access the research, technical development, knowledge transfer and enterprise activities of internationally recognized experts through a single gateway;
-
network with other researchers to gain understanding across disciplines to develop new thinking and approaches;
-
plug into technical and scientific developments at an early stage;
convert networking opportunity into technical innovation;
gain interdisciplinary understanding and develop new thinking and approaches;
-
Take advantage of opportunities to identify potential industry recruits from networking with academic researchers.
Partnership
The IRC can provide assistance to a diverse range of industries including (but not limited to) those involved in the production of plastics, elastomers, man-made fibres, adhesives, composite materials, surface coatings, food, packaging, personal care and medical sectors. Academics in the IRC network actively engage with industrial members, providing opportunities to develop first-class working relationships with internationally recognised experts. Regular meetings encourage the development of a common language and the sharing of skills, knowledge and technology necessary for successful innovation in polymer science and technology.
Exchanging ideas with other professional researchers in this way allows industrialists and academics to develop a better grasp of each other’s needs, encouraging the conversion of networking opportunities into technical advances.
The wide range of core expertise includes :
-
polymer synthesis;
-
polymer self-assembly;
-
molecular modelling;
-
computer modelling of processing and products;
-
materials characterisation ;
-
polymer processing.
The IRC can tackle almost any polymer related challenge, including those that arise in nanotechnology, the control of polymer process and production, energy efficiency, polymers in electronic devices, biopolymers and medical/biomedical applications.
The IRC also provides high quality training through its modular short-course programme, workshops and conferences, with discounts on prices available to network members.
Consultancy and testing services are available at additional cost.
Meetings
Spring Meeting
This is a highly interactive meeting held either at an academic or member company’s site. This meeting allows industrialists and academics to “plug-in” to what is going on in each other’s environments, providing inspiration for collaboration and innovation. The meeting takes a “show and tell” format, investigating selected research themes from across the network. The event also provides the opportunity to review the industrial research landscape, its aspirations and current market conditions.
There is also the opportunity to review PhD students’ work at the poster session and evaluate them as potential recruits.
Autumn Meeting—UK Polymer Showcase
The Autumn meeting for network members runs in conjunction with our Annual UK Polymer Showcase meeting. The Showcase presents a themed series of lectures from high profile speakers. The meeting is open to delegates from across the polymer community to encourage participation from as wide an audience as possible. The meeting is free to network members.
Discussion Meeting on Technical Issues
Senior and Associate members are entitled to annual meetings with representatives from the IRC to discuss company needs and potential areas for partnership. These meetings are usually member led and can be scheduled to coincide with the Spring and Autumn meetings if desired. The IRC will bring together academics with the skills required to assist the industrialists, saving both time and money.
The meetings are designed to inspire proposals for mutually beneficial joint projects, but are not a substitute for consultancy or significant work. The dialogue will be carried out under a mutual non-disclosure agreement if required.
Membership Levels
There are three levels of membership available that allow us to cater for the needs of large corporate research groups through to smaller organisations and individuals who would like to keep in touch with the latest developments in science and technology for their own personal development.
Senior Network Member £11,600 + VAT
-
Entitlement for up to 6 representatives to attend the Spring Meeting and Showcase Meeting, including normal delegate package, but excluding accommodation costs.
-
Entitlement for up to 6 representatives to attend network members dinner.
-
Inclusion in priority mailing list for technology alerts and selected events.
-
Up to 33% discount on fee paying workshops for up to 6 delegates.
-
Preferential discounted rates and limited free tuition places (subsistence charges will apply), on the annual modular training course programme run by the Polymer IRC.
-
Up to 2 private meetings per year with representatives from the IRC to discuss company activities, potential areas for interactions and pathways to funding . This allows an initial meeting and the opportunity to follow up on the ideas generated.
-
Opportunity to attend an IRC “Clinic”, to discuss technical issues and collaborative opportunities.
-
Opportunity to advertise company vacancies to potential recruits within the IRC.
-
Inclusion of the company in IRC promotional material at the company’s discretion
Associate Network Member £5,800 + VAT
-
Entitlement for up to 3 representatives to attend the Spring Meeting and Showcase Meeting, including normal delegate package, but excluding accommodation costs.
-
Entitlement for up to 3 representatives to attend network members dinner.
-
Inclusion in priority mailing list for technology alerts and selected events.
-
Up to 20% discount on fee paying workshops for up to 3delegates.
-
Preferential discounted rates on the annual modular training course programme run by the Polymer IRC.
-
A private annual meeting with representatives from the IRC to discuss company activities, potential areas for interactions and pathways to funding.
-
Opportunity to attend an IRC “Clinic”, to discuss technical issues and collaborative opportunities.
-
Opportunity to advertise company vacancies to potential recruits within the IRC.
-
Inclusion of the company in IRC promotional material at the company’s discretion.
Individual Network Member £999 + VAT
- The named member may attend the Spring
Meeting and Showcase Meeting, including normal delegate package,
but excluding accommodation costs.
- Named member may attend network members dinner.
- Inclusion in priority mailing list for technology
alerts and selected events.
- Up to 10% discount for the named member
on fee paying workshops and annual modular training course
programme run by the IRC.
- Opportunity to attend an IRC “Clinic”, to discuss
technical issues and collaborative opportunities.
- Opportunity to advertise company vacancies to
potential recruits within the IRC.
- Inclusion of the company in IRC promotional material
at the company’s discretion
Membership will be renewable annually. Notice of intention to leave the network is required at least 1 month before the renewal date.
