The University and AWE are already collaborating in a number of fields. These include smart testing, which involves recording data from engineering tests in the most efficient manner; sensors; synthetic chemistry; and materials science, examining the reactions of foams, adhesives and rubbers.

Other potential medium- and long-term collaborations have been identified in such areas as computational chemistry and the development of new detection techniques.

AWE’s Chief Scientist, Daryl Landeg, said: 'Building on an established track record of excellent research with the University of Bristol, I am delighted that we have now formed a Strategic Alliance. The aim of the alliance is to exploit our complementary strengths to make faster progress on challenging and nationally important R&D and to build greater capability in the medium and longer term. We look to do this with real innovation and also in partnership with research councils and others.'

Gordon Arthur, AWE’s Head of Technical Outreach, added: 'I am very pleased to see AWE and Bristol University sign this Strategic Alliance – it recognises the strong links already in place between Bristol and AWE’s science and technology communities and will encourage an increasingly broad interaction as, through the alliance, we identify further areas of mutual interest.'

The official signing ceremony took place at the University of Bristol on 11 March between AWE’s Chief Scientist, Daryl Landeg, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor David Clarke.

Speaking at the event, Professor Clarke said: 'AWE and the University of Bristol have a long history of collaboration in key research areas. This new Strategic Alliance presents both organisations with the opportunity to develop new collaborative ventures, combining research, people and skills to ensure that we are at the forefront of scientific discovery in the years to come.'