 Cenex is a UK government initiative supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). It is managed by a small team of full-time staff, supported by secondees for industry.
The Cenex management team reports into a Board of Directors consisting of representatives from a core group of member organisations. These members cover the broad cross-section of UK industry interested in low carbon and fuel cell technologies and have played an active role in defining the structure, aims, objectives and priorities for the centre. The concept of a Centre of Excellence for low carbon and fuel cell technologies arose from the recommendations in the Automotive Innovation and Growth Team (AIGT) report of November 2002. The AIGT brought together leading figures from the UK automotive sector to identify the issues likely to have the greatest impact on the long-term profitability and productivity of the sector. Members identified the need for the UK automotive sector to respond competitively to the challenges posed by the transition to low carbon and fuel cell technologies that is already underway. The AIGT recognised that the UK is host to many organisations demonstrating excellence in specialist fields related to low carbon and fuel cell technologies. However, both knowledge and know-how are fragmented and in need of better integration if the UK's capabilities are to be fully realised. The AIGT foresaw the creation of a Centre of Excellence as the ideal means by which to catalyse innovation to enhance UK industries' overall capabilities using strategies focused on knowledge transfer and technology demonstration. www.cenex.co.uk |
