Strengthening international research collaboration in Precision Engineering
The University of Huddersfield is continuing to strengthen its international research profile through the appointment of one of its leading academics as a Visiting Chair at Krakow University of Technology in Poland. This prestigious role for Professor Liam Blunt recognises the global reach of Huddersfield’s Centre for Precision Technologies, of which he is the Director, in precision engineering and metrology – the science of measurement. It also provides an important platform for advancing international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint research activity with a metrology-focused research team in Poland.
As a leading researcher in Precision Engineering and Metrology, and former President of the European Society of Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology (euspen), Professor Blunt’s appointment reflects both individual academic distinction and the international reputation of the University of Huddersfield in advanced manufacturing and measurement science. The Visiting Chair position enables close engagement with academic staff and researchers at one of Poland’s leading technical institutions, which has a strong tradition in engineering education and applied research.
Professor Blunt, who began developing the Centre for Precision Technologies when he joined Huddersfield in 1997, commented: “This is a fabulous opportunity to build links with Poland, a country whose manufacturing sector is showing super high growth and willingness to take on new research ideas.”
The role encompasses the delivery of specialist lectures and seminars to academic staff, early-career researchers, and doctoral students, focusing on contemporary challenges and emerging opportunities in precision engineering, additive manufacturing and dimensional metrology. These sessions will draw upon extensive experience in novel and precision manufacturing, high-accuracy measurement, and the application of metrology to advanced engineering problems and needs. The invited lectures aim to support capability development and stimulate new research directions and collaborations within the host institution.
Beyond teaching and knowledge exchange, a core objective of the Visiting Chair is to explore and develop collaborative research opportunities between the University of Huddersfield and Krakow University of Technology. The collaboration initiative will focus on identifying complementary strengths in precision engineering, manufacturing systems, and measurement science, with a view to establishing joint research projects, co-supervised doctoral programmes, and shared access to specialist facilities and infrastructure. Such collaborations have the potential to attract EU research funding and to deliver high-impact outcomes relevant to both academia and industry.
The appointment also supports the broader strategic ambitions of the University of Huddersfield by strengthening its European research partnerships and enhancing its visibility within international precision engineering and metrology communities. Long-standing engagement with euspen and other international networks provides a strong foundation for building sustainable collaborations that extend beyond individual projects to long-term institutional relationships.
This Visiting Chair position represents a significant opportunity to deepen academic ties between the UK and Poland, foster innovation through collaborative research, and contribute to the development of next-generation researchers in precision engineering and metrology. It highlights the University of Huddersfield’s continued commitment to international excellence, global engagement, and leadership in advanced engineering research.
Find out more about studying engineering at Huddersfield
The University of Huddersfield Centre for Precision Technologies is a national centre of excellence in advanced metrology, solving real-world manufacturing challenges through cutting-edge precision engineering research. Researchers at the CPT collaborate with more than 150 industrial partners to develop next-generation measurement technologies that improve accuracy, speed and cost-efficiency across engineering, design and manufacturing.
The Centre launched the EPSRC Future Metrology Hub in 2017, which was renewed in 2024 with a £13m grant to expand its scope to sustainable manufacturing. The new Advanced Metrology Hub for Sustainable Manufacturing unites experts in engineering, physics, maths and manufacturing to set industry standards and drive innovation in metrology.