News

Virginia Universities Team with Rolls-Royce on Propulsion Center

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 05/26/09

The University of Virginia in Charlottesville and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg are partnering with UK-based Rolls-Royce to create the Commonwealth Center for Aerospace Propulsion Systems (CCAPS), a virtual research and technology center focused on propulsion systems.

The partnership will create nine new, endowed professorships at the two universities in engineering and related disciplines. Additionally, the three entities will work together to define and develop curriculum and research programs at each partner school. CCAPS will be funded jointly by the partners with support from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"I speak for many Hokies in expressing our excitement at the opportunity to collaborate with Rolls-Royce and the University of Virginia at the forefront of research and education in aerospace propulsion systems, and I am grateful for the resources that the Commonwealth of Virginia has allocated for this endeavor," said Richard Benson, dean of Virginia Tech's College of Engineering. "This partnership will have a substantial impact on engineering research and education in Virginia, and I believe the high quality of our academic programs will be of great benefit to this worldwide enterprise."

"This partnership will significantly enhance our academic programs and expand our research capabilities in ways that will have great impact on the UVA Engineering School, the University of Virginia, and ultimately on the citizens of the Commonwealth," said James Aylor, dean of the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Besides being known in the past for its luxury automobiles--BMW now makes the cars sold under the Rolls-Royce marque--Rolls-Royce provides power systems and services, with products in the civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine, and energy industries. The company is currently developing a new 1,000-acre aerospace manufacturing facility at Crosspointe in Prince George County, VA.