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DYSON PLANS £100M TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH HUB IN BRISTOL

Engineering and innovation company Dyson plans to open a £100 million research and development centre in the centre of Bristol.

The hub will be home to hundreds of software and AI engineers. The new site will be built opposite Castle Park and is close to the home of the celebrated British engineer, Sir James Dyson, and his existing UK R&D hubs at Malmesbury and Hullavington.

Sir James said “Software, connectivity, AI and proprietary new technology batteries will power the next generation of Dyson technology. Just like our longterm investments in pioneering digital electric motor technology, Dyson’s next generation battery technology will drive a major revolution in the performance and sustainability of Dyson’s machines.”

Jake Dyson, Dyson’s Chief Engineer and Sir James's son, said: “We have significant ambitions and will hire increasing numbers of software, AI and connectivity engineers as part of a growing global team.”

The new centre represents a further major investment by Dyson in the UK after a Robotics Centre was announced last year at its Hullavington Airfield Campus where Dyson has restored RAF hangars and transformed them into R&D labs focused on wearables and robotics. The commitment to Bristol reflects the city’s position as an international hub for software and digital skills and will drive recruitment from the UK and around the world.

The focus at the Bristol hub will be on sensors, apps and connectivity.

The funding has been matched by the participants in the project to a total of £12.7 million and will be used to develop a fuel cell/battery hybrid powertrain for double-decker buses that is cheaper than current options and uses cuttingedge electronics and energy recovery technologies.

Project HEIDI could also create and safeguard 498 jobs and save 5.9 million tonnes of CO2. The project will see Aeristech work with Bramble Energy, the University of Bath and Norwich-based Equipmake to retrofit hydrogen fuel cell electric systems into London's iconic red buses. The collaboration will develop a high-value end-to-end electrified automotive supply chain in the UK.

Duncan Kerr, Aeristech CEO, said: "This project is not only a significant step towards achieving net zero emissions but also a great opportunity to increase awareness of hydrogen fuel cell systems in the UK while developing a sustainable and efficient public transport system. Buses are the ideal early adopters of hydrogen-fuelled powertrains as they return to depot, so there is no requirement for extensive distributed hydrogen refilling stations.”

Aeristech will design, develop, and deliver a 20kW turbo-expander air compressor that will recover heat and pressure with frictionless oil-free airbearing technology and a high-speed 90k rpm motor and controller.

The project is a significant step forward in achieving Net Zero emissions in the UK.

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