The call was made during a Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and Leeds Manufacturing Forum-backed visit to the University of Leeds' new £4.3 million EPSRC National Facility for Innovative Robotic Systems.
More than 40 local manufacturers were given access in a bid to showcase the opportunities for collaboration and how new technology – including one of the world's largest multi-material 3D printers – can be used to develop new products, introduce new processes or build larger components.
Delegates heard from local companies that have enjoyed the benefits of industrial and academic collaboration, including RSL Steeper's bionic hand and a project to build a robot that can climb stairs to seek out bombs in buildings.
David Whiteley, manufacturing growth coach at MAS, commented: "Robotic and autonomous systems has been identified by the UK Government as one of the 'eight great technologies' that are revolutionising our lives, the economy and human society.
"We've got this outstanding facility on our doorstep in Leeds, yet not enough manufacturers are taking advantage of it and academia are struggling to engage with the right firms... this is something we wanted to begin to change with this visit."
