EPSRC Manufacturing Research Hub in Robotics, Automation & Smart Machine Enabled Sustainable Circular Manufacturing & Materials

RESCU-M² is a forward-thinking research hub that aims to transform the manufacturing landscape by embedding circularity into the very heart of industrial processes. Recognizing that current "Re-X" processes (reuse, repair, remanufacture, and recycle) are often labor-intensive and economically unviable, the hub leverages AI and intelligent automation to bring these processes to the same level of productivity as traditional forward manufacturing. The goal is to create a new ecosystem where products are designed for life-extension and autonomous disassembly. The hub focuses on two grand challenges: radically transforming the use of critical materials and dramatically improving the efficiency of recovery technologies. By integrating materials science with advanced robotics, RESCU-M² seeks to recover over 75% of critical components from end-of-life products. This interdisciplinary approach not only addresses the environmental crisis by reducing CO2 emissions and waste but also secures the UK’s position as a world leader in the next generation of smart, sustainable manufacturing.