Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), University of Cambridge

The Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) provides a unique environment for the creation and sharing of new ideas and approaches to modern industrial practice.

Part of the University's Department of Engineering, it takes a distinctive, cross-disciplinary approach, bringing together expertise in management, technology and policy to address the full spectrum of industrial issues.

The IfM integrates research and education with practical application in industry. It disseminates its research findings via a University-owned knowledge transfer company, IfM Engage.

All areas of the IfM work closely with industry. Research is undertaken in collaboration with companies, ensuring its relevance to industrial needs and the rapid dissemination of new ideas and approaches. The IfM’s education programmes combine a thorough grounding in management and manufacturing technology with the chance to put theory into practice via industry-based projects.

"Combining intellectual rigour with real-world relevance, the IfM has developed an integrated community of academics, students and industrialists with a shared passion for modern manufacturing." Professor Sir Mike Gregory, Former Head of IfM

Research is clustered into a number of research areas. Particular themes include industrial and innovation policy; the integration of technology considerations into business decisions; international manufacturing and supply networks; strategy and performance; next-generation inkjet technologies; distributed information and automation systems; and industrial photonics. Various interdisciplinary, cross centre programmes have been established to address such issues as service and support engineering, industrial sustainability, emerging industries and high value production.