University of Strathclyde and IET Fellows open national hub to accelerate the UK's net zero engineering capability
The UK’s journey to net zero depends on how quickly engineers can turn promising ideas into usable technologies that work at scale.
The Advanced Net Zero Innovation Centre at the University of Strathclyde.
A huge step towards that goal took place in August 2025 with the official opening of the Advanced Net Zero Innovation Centre (ANZIC) at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.
The centre is designed as a national platform for testing, validating and scaling clean technologies—strengthening the UK's ability to bring climate-friendly innovations into the real-world.
IET Fellows lead the launch
The opening of ANZIC brought together three IET Fellows who each championed the importance of engineering leadership in the net zero transition.
Professor Will Drury, Senior Responsible Office for ANZIC, set out the centre's purpose and ambition. As one of the driving forces behind its creation, he emphasised the opportunity ahead:
“Climate change presents us with an existential threat. ANZIC is a unique opportunity to bring together the best of industry, academia, and government to accelerate the net zero transition. At its core, ANZIC showcases the University of Strathclyde's ethos as 'the place of useful learning'. A place where collaboration is used to deliver real-world impact.”
He was joined by Professor Sir Jim McDonald GBE, now Emeritus Principal of the University of Strathclyde, and Dr Carol Marsh OBE, both highly respected Fellows. Sir Jim remarked on the potential of the centre:
"By bringing together world-class capabilities and strategic partnerships, we are creating a platform for transformative change in how we power our world, manufacture our technologies, and train our future workforce."
Pictured from left to right: Professor Will Drury, Professor Sir Jim McDonald GBE and Dr Carol Marsh OBE.
ANZIC is a national asset for technology innovation
ANZIC is unique in the UK's innovation landscape because, rather than focusing on fundamental research, the centre is specifically designed to bridge the "valley of death" between lab-scale development and commercialisation.
To conquer this, the facility is spread across 10,000 square metres and includes industrial-grade labs, system integration halls and flexible texting environments. With 1 megawatt of available power, engineers can trial technologies such as:
- Electric propulsion systems
- Megawatt-scale charging for heavy goods vehicles
- Advanced automation platforms
- Advanced manufacturing processes for semiconductor packaging
Scale is what matters most. Many organisations in the UK lack access to the facilities needed to replicate real-world operating conditions. ANZIC gives that capability, enabling companies to speed up development, reduce risk and enter markets faster.
The centre also supports national priorities around clean energy growth, transport decarbonisation and strengthening UK manufacturing.
Collaboration is already underway...
Partnerships are already in motion with ANZIC. One example is Voltempo, whose megawatt-scale eHGV charging hub benefits from the ability to test high-power infrastructure under controlled but realistic conditions.
These collaborations reflect the shared investment from the University of Strathclyde, Innovate UK, the Scottish Government and industry partners, reinforcing ANZIC as a place for engineering excellence and innovation-led growth.
Supporting the workforce that net zero requires
Beyond its technical structure, ANZIC creates the need for a skilled workforce focusing on decarbonisation. Engineers at every career stage will be able to gain hands-on experience with emerging technologies and multidisciplinary systems.
Students, early-career professionals and industry specialists will be able to benefit from exposure to real-environment testing, multidisciplinary problem-solving, and navigating engineering challenges that block the UK's net zero plans.
For the wider engineering community, the centre offers opportunities for collaboration, research partnerships, industrial placements and involvement in new technology programmes.
A shared commitment to progress
The official opening of the Advanced Net Zero Innovation Centre.
The opening of the Advanced Net Zero Innovation Centre is more than just the launch of a new facility—it is a shared commitment across the engineering community towards creating a sustainable future.
The leadership shown by Professor Will Drury, Professor Sir Jim McDonald GBE and Dr Carol Marsh OBE reflects the expertise that IET Fellows bring to national challenges. They have helped create a centre that is practical and offers collaborative contribution to the UK’s net zero future.
With ANZIC now open, the UK has a powerful new platform to help turn net zero ambition into action.
As the centre grows, opportunities will expand for IET Members to engage across technical networks, skills development and thought leadership.
Organisations interested in collaboration, facility access or partnership opportunities can learn more at https://www.strath.ac.uk/research/advancednetzeroinnovationcentre/